Good Friday 7 April 2023 Homily
“Happy Good Friday!” this is how one of my non-Christian friends in college once greeted me. I was taken by surprise as no one really says “Wishing you a Happy Good Friday.” I remember having corrected my friend back then, but after all those years I now agree that he was not wrong after all. The readings for today bring out what makes this Friday a Good Friday.
The
first reading taken from Isaiah consists of the fourth servant song known as
the Suffering Servant song. In the New Testament, the servant is identified
with Christ. The servant suffered and sacrificed his life in reparation for the
sins of others. Closely connected with the reading is the concept of
substitutionary atonement or vicarious atonement.
Atonement is an often-used Old Testament term representing making amends for
sin or repairing the spiritual damage and restoring relationships broken by sin
St. Paul in the letter to the Romans tells us that ‘The wages of sin is death’
(Rom 6:23) meaning that death is what sin deserves. In the Old Testament,
atonement took the form of animal sacrifices —a process known as
substitutionary atonement—” substitutionary” meaning that God will accept a
substitute to absorb the punishment for our sins and “atonement” meaning that
we can be restored to full fellowship with God.
The
question that is often asked is - Is such vicarious suffering unjust? We can say that there are two reasons people choose
to endure suffering —love and justice. Parents who have suffered and sacrificed
for their children are a perfect example of suffering for love and those who
suffer fighting for the rights of others are a perfect example of suffering for
justice. We are called to a life of self-sacrificing love and Christ shows us
what that should look like.
The second reading taken from the book of Hebrews highlights Jesus’ dual
role as the Son of God and High Priest. Our
High Priest’s solidarity with us and sympathy towards us is not unfounded – he
too experienced what we experience. The only difference between Jesus and
us is that Jesus was without sin which enables him to offer sacrifice on behalf
of our sins as both the ultimate High Priest and the ultimate sacrifice. In
contrast to the Old Testament understanding where only the high priest was able
to enter the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice on the Day of Atonement, now we
are exhorted to approach the divine throne with boldness to receive mercy and
find grace to help in our time of need. We can put our faith in Jesus because
he has walked in our shoes––has experienced life as we know it from birth to
death––has experienced hunger and thirst and a world with poverty and
suffering. Having experienced human life to its fullest, Jesus can
support and lift us when we are weak and sinful.
The
passion narrative taken from John begins with the picture of a garden where
Jesus will be betrayed and it concludes in a garden, where Jesus will be
buried. The reading in a way is a reflection of the choices we make in our life.
To understand this we need to analyse the various characters in the passion
narrative.
First,
we look at Judas Iscariot popularly known as the traitor. It is widely believed
that Judas was most probably part of the group of Zealots who believed in the
establishment of the reign of Messiah by force and violence. Though Jesus at
first glance appeared to be the Messiah Judas hoped for, soon he realised that the message of Jesus was not that of violence and
power but of love and forgiveness. It was not about taking life but rather
laying it down for the sins of others. Some biblical commentators believe that
Judas betrayed Jesus to force him to act as the Messiah he hoped for. In our
lives as well, we like Judas get so stuck in our way of thinking that it
becomes difficult for us to see another perspective. Our prejudices against
people, our convictions, and our beliefs become most important. We won’t
hesitate to even harm others to prove ourselves right.
The second character is Peter. The rock upon which Jesus
would build the church. Impetuous, brave and even willing to use the sword when
required. However, it is this same Peter who denies Jesus three times. He is
not around while Jesus drags his cross up the hill, nor is he standing at the
cross with the women and the beloved disciple. We could say that he was all
talk and no action, however, it was fear that got the better of him. At times
in our lives, we are afraid of what people will say about us, we are afraid to commit
to Jesus. Every time we choose to play safe instead of following the values of
Christ, we follow in the footsteps of Peter and say I am not a disciple of
Jesus.
The third character is Pontius Pilate. Three times Pilate
says he can find no case against Jesus and tries to release him, until
charges are flung against Pilate himself: “If you release this man, you are no
friend of the emperor” (19:12). Things just got personal. If Pilate continues
to defend this “King of the Jews,” his own power is at risk. At times we too
act like Pontius Pilate, we prefer to be silent spectators instead of getting
our hands dirty.
The fourth group of people are the Jewish high priests and
the religious authorities. Jesus was a thorn in the flesh right from the
beginning. Insecurity and jealousy prompt the Jewish authorities to scheme
against Jesus and try him without giving him a fair trial. The fate of Jesus is
shared by many today who are unjustly put behind bars due to draconian laws
without recourse to a fair trial. How often do we resort to judging people
without making an effort to know the whole truth?
The last person to look at is Jesus Himself. Though he had
the power he doesn’t come down from the cross. Jesus’ experience of God was one
of unconditional love from His Abba Father and in his last moments, he lives
out this unconditional love. Jesus knew that Peter would deny him, and he knew
that Judas would betray him yet he loved them and accepted them with all their
flaws and imperfections. We find no greater proof of God’s love for us, than in
Jesus’ free offering of his life for us on the cross. Jesus’ last words, “It is
fulfilled,” express triumph instead of defeat. He remained true to the Father’s
love until the end.
I would like to recall what Pope Francis mentioned about the
cross a few years earlier. He stated, “The cross is the holy sign of God's Love
and a sign of Jesus' Sacrifice, and is not to be reduced to a superstitious
object or an ornamental necklace…. In moments of devotion, fervour, goodwill,
closeness to our neighbour, we look at Jesus and go forward; but in the moments
when the cross comes, we flee."
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