April 15, 2022 Good Friday
Several times in the Gospels, Jesus tells his disciples about his death. He warns them that he will suffer torture, be abandoned, and put to death. Today we remember the day his prophecies came true. Today is the only day of the Church’s calendar on which no Mass is celebrated. We gather for a solemn liturgy as we commemorate what Jesus did for us. The readings for today never vary from year to year. First, the church presents us with a final excerpt from Isaiah’s Suffering Servant Songs. This time the connection to Jesus is impossible to miss. It is clear to Christians that from of old, God would come to die for us. Next, the psalm speaks of Jesus’ great trust saying “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Finally, we read the Passion account of John’s Gospel. This account will sound different from Luke’s passion account that we heard on Palm Sunday. The differences, though of great theological significance, make little emotional difference because we leave the liturgy with the cross empty but the tomb full. All the little sacrifices we’ve made all Lent long pale in comparison with this great salvific act by our Lord. Now we go home to wait in silence, and to ponder what great love God has for us to die in this way.