Good Friday

Today, Good Friday, we hear the Passion Narrative from the Gospel of John.  This narrative tells us who was at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.” (Jn 19:25)  Of course, John, “the disciple whom he loved,” was also there as this was when Jesus entrusted Mary to him. (Jn 19:27).  

We have an invitation to not only accompany Jesus on the way of the cross, but to also stand at the foot of the cross with the three Marys and John.  What does this mean for us? Think for a minute about all of the people who were part of Jesus’ life prior to this moment: his disciples, friends, and followers.  During his three years of ministry, Jesus touched thousands of lives, especially those whom society excluded, rejected, and looked down upon. Yet, at the moment of his crucifixion there are only four standing at the foot of the cross.  I think it is important that they were standing, not sitting, not falling on the ground crying out in sorrow, but standing with a strength that was not willing to give up. It is a strength that says I am with you even though you have been rejected, mocked, and stripped of your value, dignity, and worth.

Are we willing to stand at the foot of the cross? If so, for whom are we willing to stand? Blessed John Duns Scotus, the great Franciscan philosopher/theologian, reminds us that God, through the Incarnation, chose to become human in the person of Jesus so that we might know what love looks like as it walks across the room, what love feels like as it embraces us, what perfect love is in human form.  As a result of this great love, we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.  So, it is love that was the reason for Jesus and it is out of love that Jesus suffered and died on the cross.  Jesus showed us this great love as he embraced those who were marginalized, excluded, rejected, and told they were less than human.  As we look up at the face of Jesus on the cross, do we see the face of our brothers and sisters whose value, dignity and worth have been taken away from them?

Let us accept the invitation to stand at the foot of the cross with the same strength as the three Marys and John and let us be that strength for those who need us the most - responding to the call of the Gospel to be a prophetic presence as we stand with our brothers and sisters, made in the image and likeness of God, who have been stripped of their value, dignity, and worth.

In the words of Pope Francis on Palm Sunday, “May Our Lady help us stay close to Jesus, present in the people who suffer, are cast out, abandoned” as we journey toward Easter!

Brother Joseph Bach, O.S.F.