Today is Good Friday a holy day of remembering as Jesus demonstrates his perfect obedience to his Father’s will and his love for us. At Gethsemane, Jesus said “Sit here while I pray. My soul is sorrowful even to death…..take this cup away from Me, but not what I will but what You will” (Mark 14: 32-36). Next, Judas betrayal and Peter’s denial before Jesus is handed over to Pontius Pilate. Then beaten, scourged, dressed in purple, with a crown of thorns placed on his head (Matthew 27: 26-31; Mark 15: 1-20; John 19: 1-3). 

We witness the crowd chanting  “King of the Jews” and watch with heavy hearts as Christ picks up his cross (Matthew 27: 32; Mark 15: 21; John 19:16-17) and is whipped by Centurions on the path to The Place of the Skull or Golgotha. Along the way signs of loving mercy emerge towards Jesus Simon of Cyrene  (under orders by Centurions) assist Jesus in carrying the cross; a loving exchange occurs between Jesus and his mother as she reaches out to him; the women of Jerusalem show distress; and Veronica provides Jesus a cloth to wipe the blood and sweat from his face. The soldiers shamefully strip Jesus and secure him to the cross with nails through his hands and feet. The cross is raised. 

Christ suffering for us.  

At approximately 3 pm the skies darken and Christ crys out “Father into Your hands I commend my spirit..and when he had said this he breathed his last” (Luke  23-33-46).  Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene and other women at the cross (Matthew 27: 55-56; Mark 15:40; Luke 23: 49; John 19:25) are torn with grief; Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus assist as Jesus is removed from the cross, his body prepared, and transported to the tomb. 

We venerate the cross and pray for what is yet to come. 

Lent has been a time for us to  journey with Jesus. To silently reflect on scripture, to pray, and to deepen our understanding and faith in the risen Christ so we can open our hearts to love each other more deeply, to stay the course from sin to freedom and death to life. 
I pray we have responded to the whisperings of Jesus during these past weeks.