Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Today’s scripture readings are heavy, filled with both tragedy and courage. We read about the extraordinary courage of Jesus and Mary. When the soldiers and guards say they are looking for Jesus the Nazorean, Jesus, “knowing everything that was going to happen to him,” answers “I AM,” not just once, but twice. And Mary, his mother, stands by the cross. In an early episode of the podcast series “Another Name for Every Thing,” Franciscan friar Richard Rohr talks about the power of Mary standing at the foot of the cross, saying, “I just read this some years ago that a woman had a formal role in the whole Mediterranean world. In the presence of death, she is to wail, fall on the ground, scream, pound her fists against the enemy...to protest death. Mary is signified with such dignity, she ‘stood’ at the foot of the cross.” Jesus and Mary accepted the struggle, rebuked the cultural norm, and stood fearlessly despite death and injustice. At the height of his suffering. Jesus not only offers us saving grace and the gift of his very life, but also gives us his mother, saying to all of us, as disciples, “Behold, your mother.”
It is truly fascinating to witness our kids learning about Jesus’ life and death. After reading a book in Kindergarten, our 6-year old told us that Jesus rode a donkey, then on Friday he died on the cross and was put in a cave, on Saturday nothing happened, and then on Sunday he rose again! It is a pretty good summary. Our 4-year old watched a movie in preschool and remembers that there were nails in Jesus’ hands. But they get confused when they see a crucifix and still see Jesus’ body on the cross. They asked, “why doesn’t Jesus come off the cross?” It is a good, logical question as they come to understand the story.
The cross is a stark image of God’s great love for us. The crucifix is hope. It serves as a constant reminder that we, too, will overcome death and rise to new life. Knowing we are not alone, we can lean on Mary, our mother, sustained by her strength. We are called to stand courageously as disciples, to accept the outpouring of grace and face the challenges in our midst.
We may know that we will have much to celebrate in a couple of days and while we anticipate that Jesus’ body will no longer be on the cross, or even in the tomb, today we simply sit in the darkness and grief. Sit with the pain and confusion. Reflect, perhaps, on the challenges we encountered this Lent. Consider how Jesus’ wrongful death mirrors the unjust violence that so many people face in our world today.
How can we stand courageously today, holding the tragedy of our Lord’s passion along with our grief and loss from this past year? How can we increase our own generosity and love, even at the height of our own suffering? May Jesus and Mary accompany us as we conclude our Lenten journey, providing courage, determination, and grace to face our own struggles fearlessly.
Peace,
LeeAnn Meyer