Good Friday Homily ‘Passion Of Our Lord Jesus Christ’
Introduction:
We are gathered this afternoon to commemorate the Passion and death of Jesus. Most of the world doesn’t know what is happening to no fault of their own. More reason for us to be here representing all our brothers and sisters around the world. Perhaps we can pause for a moment and call to mind and place in our hearts the people entrusted to us. They belong to Jesus. Our patient and at times arduous walk with them will pay great dividends in the end. Much the same way Christ has walked slowly and patiently with me.
Soon we will pray together during the Solemn Intercessions. One of them is for: ‘For those who do not believe in God’. As we pray for the people in the world let’s not be afraid to also pray for the courage to be great ambassadors of Christ.
Jesus has made it abundantly clear and the Church in turn has taught us with laser beam accuracy that he wants everyone to be saved.
1260 Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.
‘Lord, help me to see my brothers and sisters who live with me in the world the same way you see me. I thank you for the mercy you have shown me throughout my life. I will be your ambassador of divine mercy.
‘Woman, Behold your son.’
Mary would have to substitute Jesus for John. And she voluntarily and radically accepts the gift and suffering that will come with this exchange. She lived with the most perfect person to ever have lived for thirty-three years and that was about to change. This was her son’s will and she understood that it was part of her Fiat 33yrs ago. From the moment he was conceived inside her womb she began the journey of letting him go.
All people are placed inside her mantle of love and protection. No one goes unnoticed nor escapes her maternal care. She gazes on everyone and sends armies of angels to assist us in our darkest moments.
Have I voluntarily and radically accepted her as she has accepted me? What is stopping me from placing my life, my vocation and death into her loving and tender hands. If today you hear her voice, harden not your hearts.
‘Behold your mother.’
What does it mean to be held by Mary? Can I remember the moments she accompanied me when all seemed lost? Perhaps those moments have not happened to me yet, because I am young, today is the right moment to request from her this gift of her continual presence and guidance.
I have a friend in Jacksonville FL who converted to Catholicism after marrying a Catholic, but he never understood or felt the need for Mary, until his wife was dying of cancer. He called out to her, ‘Mary, I don’t know you and haven’t felt drawn to you, but I need help, Diane is dying.’ While Dick was looking in the operating room, a man came into his room and said, ‘who are you?’ I am her husband. He quickly left. Shortly thereafter Dick saw that man enter the operating room. He was told later the best doctor in town wasn’t supposed to be there that day but just showed up. Dick and Diane were given more years together.
So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
Soon we will disperse and go home. We will carry all that we have seen and heard. You are providing for him your empty heart.
All we need is a quiet place to contemplate. No words are necessary. No spiritual reading. Find a quiet corner in the house. Put your phone on aero plane mode, and be still. We have traveled together as a community but now we need to be alone with the one who has shown us how much he loves. He has chosen my heart to rest, to sleep. He needs me to take care of him. Just like St Joseph would have.
I finish with this prayer that was found 50yrs after the death of Jesus:
O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.