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GOOD FRIDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION,
18 April 2025 – John 18: 1-19: 42
LACK OF LOVE
Our Lord’s Passion and Death according to the gospel of John will be read today at the Good Friday Service. On Palm Sunday, the gospel was our Lord’s Passion and Death according to Luke. Those of us who loyally attend masses and church services during the Easter Triduum must already be very familiar with the story of our Lord’s Passion and Death. Still, when we listen to the reading with our heart, we will feel SO SORRY that Jesus, the Son of God had to go through all the pain and humiliation just to save us very unworthy people.
Hopefully, when we listen to the reading, we will not be thinking of the Jews who did that to him but put ourselves in the place of the Jews. Could we have been like them if we were born in that place and time? By the way we live our lives, are we not among those who caused him pain and humiliation? Are we not among those who are shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” whenever we choose to go against God’s will? Are we not among those who did not care that a man was being punished for something he wasn’t guilty of, when we are indifferent to those suffering around us? Are we like Pilate who succumbed to the pressure of the people even if he knew Jesus was innocent, when we fail to fight for justice because we have to be popular among those around us?
We cannot criticize the Jews, because until now, we continue to make other people suffer because of our indifference, our pride, and most of all our LACK OF LOVE.
The Presider will be wearing red vestments at today’s services because red symbolizes martyrdom. Let us not waste the sacrifice of the martyr, Jesus, and the so many other martyrs who had to suffer and die just so we may be blessed today and for all times to freely profess our faith in God!
Lord Jesus, we are so sorry for the many times we were like the Jews. Help us with your Spirit to remain loyal to you in the midst of challenges!
