10 April 2009

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday, the day in the liturgical calendar commemorating the Passion and Death of Christ on the Cross.

It's not a holy day of obligation, but a day of fasting and abstinence, and the faithful are encouraged to attend liturgy.  No Mass is celebrated on Good Friday, but more of a memorial service during which an account of the Passion is read.

I always have mixed feelings when Good Friday arrives.  There is one part of me that is sad at the crucifixion of Christ, knowing how he was treated in spite of all the good he did during his ministry.  He did nothing wrong, and was persecuted for it.  It calls to mind people all over the world who, even today, are imprisoned and killed because of their faith.

On the other hand, part of me is thankful and joyous because of the sacrifice Christ made willingly for people.  I know many people think of Christ's prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he asks his Father to "let this cup pass."  But immediately after that, he says, "yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39, NASB). [emphasis added]  He trusted the path his Father had set down for him, and was willing to follow that path because he knew the Lord was making a decision out of true love that was best.

I encourage you to read the reflection on Good Friday posted by Modern Catholic Mom.  In it, she compares the denial of Christ by Judas with the denial of Christ by Peter, and ties it nicely in with Christ's infinite forgiveness.  No offense, but there aren't many people I know that would welcome someone back lovingly if that person denied them the way Peter denied Christ.  And yet, even though Peter denied Christ, the Church was built on him.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and weekend, no matter how you celebrate the holiday!

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