At The Cross
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion (A, B, C)
Today’s Gospel reading at the Mass is a reading of the Lord’s Passion, and is from John 18:1-19:42.
For today’s Gospel readings, please visit: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings. Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ is the single most staggering event to ever have been witnessed in all of history. It is, somehow, at once, utterly horrible and utterly blessed.
The horror of Jesus’ Passion and Death is not only that Jesus was hideously tortured, repulsively insulted, and excruciatingly killed. It is that he was hideously tortured, repulsively insulted, and excruciatingly killed by us. The events of that particular day, Good Friday, were not the cause of Jesus’ suffering and Death, but only the occasion of His Death. Our sin is the cause of His suffering and Death. The physical horrors we see at Jesus’ execution are only the visible portion of what He endures. In His soul He faces the drastic state of mankind’s situation in sin, and suffers the full burden of each and every individual sin that each of us and every man and woman has ever, or ever will, commit—from the beginning of time to its end. His pain is literally unfathomable.
And yet, astonishingly, it is here, exactly here at the Cross, at the lowest point of our decisive misery, that Jesus Christ saves us. Jesus Christ does not save us at our heights—He saves us at our depths. We were stuck in sin, apart from God, and powerless to change our situation. But, out of infinite love, Christ changes it for us. At the Cross, Jesus unites with us in our misery so that we can unite with Him in His glory. At the Cross, Jesus unites with us in our suffering so that we can unite with Him in His healing. At the Cross, Jesus unites with us in our death so that we can unite with Him in His Life. At the Cross, Jesus unites with us in our sin so that we can unite with Him in this victory over sin. At the Cross, Jesus unites Himself with us who are in separation from God so that we can unite with Him in His union with God.
It is impossible for us to speak worthily enough about the infinite love of God that He pours out to us—sinners—on the Cross. At the Cross everything is for us. For at the Cross is Christ.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
(Consider saying special prayers on Good Friday.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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