“Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Throughout his ministry, Jesus sought to teach people that God was a caring and loving Father,

not a stern and unforgiving judge, nor a vengeful and uncaring deity.

The Prologue in the Gospel of John tells us of God’s profound love for the world which led him to send his Son to redeem it. 

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

 

Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

We have a great high priest, Jesus, the Son of God, who has entered heaven. Let us, then, hold fast to the faith we profess. Our high priest is not indifferent to our weaknesses, for he was tempted, in every way, just as we are, yet, without sinning. Let us, then, with confidence, approach the throne of grace. We will obtain mercy and, through his favor, help in due time.

 

Christ, in the days of his mortal life, offered his sacrifice with tears and cries. He prayed to him, who could save him from death, and he was heard, because of his humble submission. Although he was Son, he learned, through suffering, what obedience was, and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation, for those who obey him. This is how God proclaimed him Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

John 18:1-19:42*

(...) Bearing his cross, Jesus went out of the city to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There he was crucified, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus in the middle.

Pilate had a notice written and fastened to the cross, which read: Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews. (...) The chief priests said to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews'; but, 'This man claimed to be King of the Jews'." Pilate answered them, "What I have written, I have written."

 

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one part for each of them. But as the tunic was woven in one piece from top to bottom, they said, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots to decide who will get it." This fulfilled the words of Scripture: They divided my clothing among them; they cast lots for my garment. This was what the soldiers did.

 

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister Mary, who was the wife of Cleophas, and Mary of whom he loved, he said to the mother, "Woman, this is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "This is your mother." And from that moment the disciple took her to his own home. Jesus knew all was now finished and, in order to fulfill what was written in Scripture, he said, "I am thirsty."

 

A jar full of bitter wine stood there; so, putting a sponge soaked in the wine on a twig of hyssop, they raised it to his lips. Jesus took the wine and said, "It is accomplished." Then he bowed his head and gave up the spirit. (...)

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"It is finished."

Today is Good Friday. This is the day when Jesus laid down his life. This is also the day when a new family, characterized by a new relationship, flowed out from Jesus' life-giving Spirit. Before Jesus died, he said that it is finished. The use of the Greek word tetelestai, "It is finished," connotes that Jesus had already completed his mission but its effects continue to be experienced by the people he saved.

 

Moreover, it is interesting to note that the Greek expression paredöken to pneuma, meaning "he handed down the Spirit," implies that Jesus, upon bowing his head, handed down the Spirit to the community of disciples standing at the foot of the cross. This suggests that the mission of Jesus must continue with and through the members of the new family he raised when he was exalted on the cross.

 

We, Christians, are the members of this new family resulting from Jesus' offering of his own life. However, many of us are already contented with seeing ourselves as the community of the saved. We should not forget that when Jesus handed down the Spirit to us, we have also become a saving community.