My GOOD FRIDAY Reflection....
Most of us are quite familiar with today's readings because every year, on Good Friday, we hear the same readings regarding the Passion of Jesus. During Lent, over and above reconciling ourselves to the Lord God while preparing ourselves for the coming of Easter Sunday that commemorates the glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, we reviewed the events that led to the Passion of the Lord Jesus.
Therefore, there is no necessity for me to review all those events again. Today, I want to look at one short yet poignant phrase. "Why do you strike me?" I find it very difficult to perceive how a human being could dare to strike the face of his God, his Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps some of you have seen the television program about the reconstruction of the face of Jesus from the image of the Shroud of Tourin. Did you see the face of the man that emerged from that reconstruction? The gentleness, the love in the eyes. Jesus was a gentle man who continuously shined in love and mercy throughout His ministry on earth. What crime did Jesus commit to deserve the sentence of the death penalty? What evil acts did He do to antagonize so many to the point that they sought His death without disregard for the value of human life?
We are all very familiar with the Bible passage that says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son..." [Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn. 4:9] When we consider the death of Jesus, we automatically associate it with our salvation. We remember that Jesus died for us. We remember that He died for all of our sins. If I was to ask a group of Christians, young or old, "How did Jesus suffer for us?", most likely ninety-nine percent of them would answer, "He died on the cross for us” and that would be true. But while we remember this truth, do we remember the many other sufferings that Jesus willingly endured for us?
Do we remember that Jesus was betrayed by someone that He knew for three years and who He loved? Most of us can associate with the feeling of being betrayed, of losing a friend. One's trust is broken. Friendship comes to an end.
Do we remember the lies that were testified against Jesus?
How about when some of the people spit on Jesus?
When Jesus was repeatedly hit by the palms of peoples hands?
When He was whipped and He shed His Sacred Blood?
When He had a Crown of Thorns placed on His head?
Do we remember when that for our sake, Jesus was stripped of His clothing? What embarrassment He endured for us!
Do we remember when Jesus was mocked as the King of the Jews?
When He was hit on the head with a reed?
When they mocked Jesus by bowing on their knees before Him?
When they casted lots for His vesture?
When they casted lots for His vesture?
When He was beaten by the soldiers?
When He had to carry the heavy wooden Cross of our sins while He was in such great pains?
Do we stop and think of the tremendous pains that Jesus must have endured when the nails perforated His tender hands and feet? As soon as we get a sliver in one of our fingers, we complain of the pain. So great is the pain that some appear to be dancing when they are jumping up and down while wiggling their finger. Is not a sliver in the finger counted as nothing when compared to a nail in the palm of the hand?
Do we remember that when Jesus was thirsty, the soldier gave Him a sponge full of vinegar to drink? Have any of us tried drinking vinegar to see what taste it leaves in your mouth afterwards? Would anyone in their right mind give a glass of vinegar to their someone they love?
Who could have imagined this cruelty? Who could have imagined that Jesus would be called to suffer so much for each and everyone of us? Could Mary have imagined it? Could His disciples have imagined it? No, none of them could have imagined the extreme abuse that Jesus endured for each and everyone of us. In fact, they must have all felt helpless against the Romans who were being manipulated by the religious elders. They must have been as scared as Peter was when he denied knowing Jesus. Deep within, they must have been terribly hurt. While we can imagine the hurt of being betrayed by a friend or the hurt that is associated with seeing someone slapped in the face, how much hurt did the Blessed Virgin Mary and the disciples of Jesus endure in their hearts when they saw the abuse that was afflicted upon the Lord? None of them could have imagined that the earthly life of Jesus would come to such an end.
About two thousand years ago, Jesus asked, "Why do you strike me?" Is He asking us the same thing today? Do we strike at Jesus? While we may not strike at Him physically, do we wound His Sacred Heart by our failure to strive against the sinful nature? When we fall short of showing love towards others, are we betraying our Lord? When we refuse to feed the hungry, are we not starving Jesus? When we turn away the strangers, are we not turning away Jesus? When we refuse to take care of the sick or refuse to visit the prisoners, are we not ignoring Jesus? We can scorn Judas for taking 30 pieces of silver to betray our Lord, but don’t we take far less when we betray God in our sin? Don’t we usually do it for free?
My brothers and sisters, Jesus said in the Gospels, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." Last week, last month or last year, was I guilty of striking Jesus when I struck someone else? How blessed we are that the merciful Lord Jesus has given us the Sacrament of Confession so we may cleanse our souls of the offenses that we have personally committed against Him. Today and tomorrow, as recommended by the Church, we are participating in a fast to honour the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus and to prepare ourselves to share more deeply in the joy of His glorious Resurrection. When going home today, let us not forget the details of how Jesus suffered for us before He died on the Holy Cross. Let us never forget it! And let us forever be thankful to Jesus for having carried the Cross of our sins for our salvation and eternal happiness.
