Good Friday,10
In a book “Why Bad things happen to Good people,? ”Harold Kushner, a Jewish Rabbi wrote about the untimely death of his son:“Why was my son taken away from me? I have never wavered in my duties to God and people in my life.”
The same question is asked by every one of us when tragedies happen in our lives.
On this Friday, we ask the same question in a very pointed way: “Why did Jesus have to die? Was there any other way Jesus could redeem people?”
There was this priest-theologian, Newhaus, telling us in a book of his that an old man who lived in the same apartment building that he lived in once stopped him on his way and told him:“Father, I can believe in everything what the Church teaches us, but I cannot believe in a Father who tortures and kills his son”.
Yes, this was a thought that puzzled even the people of Jesus’ time.
St.John the Evangelist summarizes the whole theology of the Cross in a few telling words: “God so loved the word that He sent His only begotten Son so that all those who believe in Him may have eternal life.” Love is reason for the death of Jesus
Jesus tells us that only through sacrifice that we can show our utmost love: “ No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
He shows that even in nature, death is the source of life: “ Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and decays, it cannot give new life.”
Because Jesus walked through the path of suffering, we know we can walk through the same path.
Sicknesses, tragedies are a part of life. They are not God’s punishment.
Jesus shows how they can be sources of strength for us, for hope for us.
We can carry these crosses—alcoholism in the family, abusive behavior, drug use, financial destruction, sicknesses etc-- as long as we carry them with Jesus beside us.
The words Jesus uttered on the cross should be on our lips every day.
“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
Good Friday is a not a day to weep over the Crucifixion of Jesus, but a day to weep over the Crucifixion that we do everyday through our sinfulness.
If Jesus had not walked the path of defeat, and had not drunk the last drop of suffering through his excruciating pain on the cross, we would not get the courage to “ to take up our cross and follow Him.”
Jesus did walk the path of suffering, conquered suffering and death, rose up in glory and because of that, , we know that the path of suffering does not lead to defeat. Hence the cross is our glory, the sign of our hope and joy.
As
As walk along the path of suffering in our own personal lives , when our dear ones are experiencing agonizing pain in their lives, or when we experience great losses or undergo severe tests, the cross of Jesus is our comfort. When people closest to us are taken away from us and the bonds of love are broken, this cross will be the sign of our confidence and hope. As Jesus walks beside us with His cross when we go through the painful experiences of our lives, we should say with him:“ Father into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
Let this be the day for us to renew our spiritual strength, to get reconciled with those with whom we are estranged, to offer forgiveness unconditionally to those who have hurt us.
The Cross of our Lord invites us to choose to love, to forgive, to reach out, to realize that suffering is the shadow of the outstretched hands of Jesus.
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