Security

Good Friday
Today’s Readings: [Click here]

Today, on Good Friday, we remember Jesus Christ’s passion. We have just listened once again to John’s gospel describing Our Lord’s betrayal, arrest, trial, death sentence, execution and burial.

And how can you not be sad when you hear this story? It’s part of human nature to be emotional and empathetic when we learn about the terrible tragedies or suffering or burdens that other human beings endure.

And yes, as Catholics, we’re especially blessed when it comes to guilt. It doesn’t take a lot to push us Catholics to remember that it was OUR sins that did this to poor Jesus!

Think of how I feel as a converted Jew. First I was told that it was my people who killed Christ. So I become a Christian. Now I’m told it’s my sin that made him suffer. Oy vey.

By no means do I intend to make light of Our Lord’s passion and the role of the human race in bringing it about. We know that if it hadn’t been for the fall in the Garden of Eden, we’d all still be in paradise and there would have been no need for God to send his Son to redeem us. In fact, theologians tell us that in a way, it’s a good thing that sin came into the world. Why? Because that brought us Jesus Christ, so in the end, we wind up better off than if we never had sinned and never experienced God’s mercy, forgiveness and so much grace. That’s why tomorrow, at the vigil mass of Easter, the priest sings: “O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!” (It’s at the bottom of page 116 of the missalette if you want to check it out).

But guilt does a lot more than just make us feel bad about situations. It can also distort our view of things. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the idea of sin, that it overshadows the good news that Christ came to bring us. Just reflect on your favorite gospel stories. How often do you see Jesus wagging his finger and raging against sinners like the worst of today’s fundamentalist preachers? No, Jesus saves his venom for the religious hypocrites who put burdens on the people… but how gentle he is with regular folks, including thieves, adulterers, prostitutes, murderers and every other kind of scoundrel. Doesn’t that tell you something!

Many religions, including Christianity, promise an afterlife of eternal peace and happiness. Often, though, we’re told that certain conditions are attached to attaining this eternal life—conditions that have to do with striving to achieve a state of perfection that will make us pure enough to be one with God.

But Christ promises us quite simply that if we but follow and trust the good shepherd, we will have eternal life. “My sheep,” Christ says, “follow me; and I give them eternal life.”

I can’t stress enough how important it is to recognize that the emphasis here is not on the character of the follower, but rather on the assurances of Christ. We do not have to achieve perfection, since we can rest secure in Christ’s absolute trustworthiness.

And that, you see, is really what today’s commemoration is all about. Christ is so thoroughly trustworthy that despite the personal cost to him, he is going to pay the price for us to get us into God’s good graces… to get us into the eternal joys of heaven. Yes, maybe he could have cut corners. Do you remember his comment in Matthew’s passion account where he was about to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane? He said to the posse that came out to get him, “Do you think I couldn’t call on my Father and he wouldn’t provide me at this very moment with more than twelve legions of angels?” But no. Jesus willingly swallowed the bitter pill because he promised he would.

And in the same way, you can bet your bottom dollar—you can bet your soul—that he will also deliver your salvation.

So: we celebrate today that Jesus laid down his life to destroy the things that would destroy us: fear, guilt, anger, resentment, sickness and ultimately death itself. With such a Savior watching over us, we have nothing to fear.