THE WORD
GOOD FRIDAY Is 52.13-53.12 /Heb 4,14-16; 5,7-9 / Jn 18, 1-19, 42
The Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
IN OTHER WORDS
What is good on a Good Friday? On this day we talk about suffering, that is, Jesus’ passion. On this day we are confronted with death, Jesus’ death on the cross. There is nothing, humanly speaking, good in suffering, just as nobody, in his/her right mind, will talk about the good which death brings, especially the death of a loved one. The gospel of John invites us to re ect on the passion narrative, its meaning and significance to our faith as Christians. Jesus’ passion gives sense to the suffering we endure, his death a new dimension to the loss we all experience and a promise of hope and joy in the fullest meaning of the resurrection.
The good on Good Friday is Christ suffering with and for all of us. By suffering with us, Christ empathizes with us, understands our frailty, and enters our experience of pain. By suffering for all, Christ lightens and eases life’s brokenness. The good on Good Friday is Christ laying down his life for the sake of the beloved. We are the beloved because he died for us. By dying on the cross, Christ expressed his perfect love for all of us. In like manner, when we are able to recognize and accept our own pain and woundedness, we also become aware of the sufferings of others and are able to become wounded healers for those in pain.
- Fr. Michael Layugan, SVD | DWST, Tagaytay City
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
