Good Friday
Daily Prayer
Loving God, who, out of love for the world, handed Your Son over to death, as we meditate on the suffering and death of Your Son, grant that we may walk eagerly to Your love so that we may come to share the glory of His Resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-5:9; John 18:1–19:42
(Click for today’s Readings.)
Scripture Quote
John 18:11
Jesus said to Peter:
“Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”
Reflection
On this Good Friday, we Christians find an explanation for the mystery of death and life that we would never be able to understand using only our human faculties. The Word of God reveals the mystery to us.
In the First Reading by Isaiah, we see in Jesus a very personal Servant of God undergoing the painful path of the cross and death. The Servant finds salvific meaning to his pain in a loving dialogue with God. That meaning is to surrender Himself to death to “take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.”
In the painful drama of the Passion Reading, we see that Jesus never loses contact with his Father: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me… My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?… Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” And it is in this dialogue with His Father that Jesus discovers the meaning of what was, in appearences, a failure.
We all tremble at the thought of having to face death alone. The presence of a loved one gives us comfort and strength to overcome this test. The presence of God and Jesus our Savior lets us discover the meaning that our pain and our death must have. God will always be by our side. In a sincere and loving dialogue with God, we will regain hope again.
Reflection Questions
How will I reflect and give thanks for the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for me and for the world?
How can I make myself more worthy to receive Your gifts?
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
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