My dear brothers and sisters, today, as we gather in solemnity and reflection, our hearts are drawn to the cross, the symbol of our redemption, the focal point of our faith. On this Good Friday, we commemorate the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly endured suffering and death for the salvation of all humanity.
In the readings proclaimed to us, we encounter the profound depth of Christ’s love. We walk with Him on the road to Calvary, witnessing His agony, His pain, His sacrifice. The Prophet Isaiah’s words echo through the ages, as he describes the suffering servant, “a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom people hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem” (Isaiah 53:3). In these words, we find the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation, the ultimate expression of love poured out for us.
As we contemplate the mystery of the cross, we are confronted with the reality of sin and its consequences. The cross reveals the depth of human brokenness and the magnitude of God’s mercy. It is here, in the midst of suffering and death, that we find hope. For through Christ’s sacrifice, we are offered the gift of reconciliation with God, the promise of forgiveness, and the hope of eternal life.
Yet, the cross is not merely a historical event relegated to the past. It is a living reality, a constant reminder of God’s love and presence in our lives. As we journey through our own struggles and sufferings, we are called to embrace the cross, to unite our pain with Christ’s, knowing that through our trials, we are drawn closer to Him.
In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul reminds us of the humility and obedience of Christ, who “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8). Let us reflect on the profound humility of our Lord, who endured the cross out of love for us.
Today, as we venerate the cross, let us open our hearts to receive the graces poured out upon us. Let us entrust our burdens, our pain, our brokenness to the one who carried the weight of the world upon his shoulders. And let us resolve to live lives worthy of the sacrifice made on our behalf, lives marked by love, mercy, and forgiveness.
May the cross of Christ be our strength and our salvation. May it guide us through the darkness of this world to the light of eternal life. And may we, like the good thief who hung beside Jesus, find redemption and peace in the embrace of our Savior.