by Reverend Deacon Lawrence A. St. Onge 

      From the opening words of the 1^st reading today, we hear why Christians call this day, on which we commemorate Jesus’ suffering and death, “Good Friday.” It says: “See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.”

      In today’s 2^nd reading from Hebrews, we hear that Jesus did indeed “prosper” and was “raised high and greatly exalted.” We hear Jesus referred to as “a great high priest who has passed through the heavens;” because, according to the Hebrews’ author, Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered,” and is now able to “sympathize with our weakness” since he, like us, has been “tested in every way, yet without sin.” Consequently, Jesus is superior to the Jewish high priest who likewise was to sympathize with the sins of the people because he himself – as a sinner – could understand our human weakness. It is through Jesus’ suffering, as today’s 2^nd reading from Hebrews tells us, that Jesus “became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

      For this reason, we Christians call this day “Good Friday,” because by Jesus’ suffering and death, God has raised Him high, and we greatly exalt him.

      In today’s passion narrative by St. John the Evangelist everything leads up to “the hour” of Jesus, “the hour” being his crucifixion, the moment he will be lifted up on the cross glorifying both himself and the Father. This is the high point of St. John’s gospel, and it is that on which we should center our focus and reflection today. For St. John, the passion of Jesus was not a dreadful experience of doubt, rejection and sadness, but rather, was the Son of God accomplishing his destiny and mission by being lifted up to glory on the cross. After making sure everything is in order and complete, we hear Jesus speak his last words: “It is finished.” It is not a sad or tragic ending, but a glorious ending that had been planned from the very beginning, according to God’s will. This is why we can truly call today “Good Friday.”

      Today is the day when we should concentrate on our own cross and unite it closely with the cross of Christ. Yet more often than not, we might wish that our own cross would go away. Sometimes we tend to forget that our Lord has asked us to pick up our cross and follow him. Not to go ahead of him, but to follow him. We needn’t be afraid, because it is Christ himself, who leads the way for us. He carries his cross ahead of us and shows us the way.

      There is an anecdote about how one day in Calcutta Mother Theresa observed a group of sisters as they left the convent on their way to their apostolic work. She noted that one sister in particular looked sad and gloomy. Mother Theresa stopped her and told her that the problem was that she was carrying her cross ahead of Christ. We must not lead, but follow. We must let the Lord Jesus and his cross lead the way.

      There are many people who love Easter and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, but would love to do without the suffering of Good Friday. But the first is not possible without the latter. Jesus says in the gospel, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit….Whoever serves me must follow me….”

      There is a well known prayer written by an unknown author, which captures the spirit of those who wish not to carry their cross, or who will not allow Christ and his cross to lead the way. It goes: “He asked for strength that he might achieve. He was made weak that he may obey. He asked for power that he might do great things. He was given pain that he might do better things. He asked for wealth that he might be in comfort. He was made poor that he might live in sympathy. He asked for success that he might have the praise of others. He was given failure that he might feel the need of God. He asked for all things that he might enjoy life. He was given life that he might enjoy all things. He received nothing that he asked for…and yet all that he hoped for.”

      Our own personal cross, whatever it might be, makes us one with Christ. We who are marked with the cross of Christ by baptism dare to call this Friday “good,” because we know it is not the end of the story. We approach the Eucharist bearing our own crosses as we do Sunday after Sunday, and especially on this day we dare call “good.” We bear each cross with hope, as reflected in the poem by Vincent Holmes, called “Good Friday:” It goes: “Gall is the taste of life, when we who live must bear our Calvary. On this day our Master died – Christ, the Lord, the Crucified. Upon the cross in agony, He shed his blood for love of me. In every street, on every hill, the Heart that stopped is beating still.” Come, let us approach the altar and receive our crucified Lord.