Homily: Good Friday Year ABC
The Glory of the Cross and the Goodness
of Good Friday in Time of Covid -19
Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok
v Isa 52:13-53:12
v Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13,
15-17, 25
v Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9
v John 18:1–19:42
On Palm
Sunday, we witnessed and celebrated Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. That
celebration unfortunately took place under the current difficult, painful and vicious
atmosphere of Corona virus. As the Holy Father, Pope Francis said yesterday in
his Mass of the Last Supper’s Homily we commend our priests, currently active
in spreading the Gospel, especially on all forms of social media, and those of
our health workers who are “ saints to their next door neighbors” in this time of
global health pandemic; that this year’s Holy Week has sadly witnessed!
As
unique and extraordinarily as this year’s Holy Week liturgical celebration
might structurally look, it is for our own good, and the good of our neighbors.
As we adjust, and celebrate today, we continue to follow the directives of our
scientists, health experts, whose wisdom comes from God. We continue to listen
patiently to our inspired world and church leaders who provide guidance for us
in this difficult times.
On this day, the Congregation of Divine
Worship and Discipline of the Sacrament’s “Degree In time of Covid-19” led by
Cardinal Robert Sarah, instructs us that “in Cathedral and parish churches,
where and in the measure that there is a real possibility of doing so,
established by the one responsible, the Bishop/Parish Priest will celebrate the
Passion of the Lord. In the Universal Prayer, the Bishop will see to it that
there is a special intention for the sick, the dead, for those who feel lost or
dismayed (cf. Misalle Romanum, pag, and 314 n. 13).”
My
brothers and sisters this is where we are. That journey we began together on
Palm Sunday culminates in today’s events: the glory of the cross and the goodness
of Friday. This makes us wonder what is really glorious, good, or redemptive about
the holy cross we venerate on Good Friday, if I may add, in this year of Corona
virus that has inflicted and devastated, physically, emotionally, and mentally
so many already.
In
other words, what is good about this year’s Good Friday? What is good about
the red vestment priests wear today? What is good about our altars left bare,
undecorated, today? I guess it’s the knowledge that Christ loves us to the end,
no matter the affliction, no matter, the suffering, and the mockery he endured at
the Stations of the Cross, since God his Father watches over him. In faith, the same God watches over us- our
leaders, families, health workers, priests, religious, lay faithful, in this
moment of global pandemic.
In
that moment of the passion narratives, Jesus said many prayers from that cross.
One of them is: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). We see
the goodness of Good Friday, no matter the times and seasons, in this prayer. In
it, Christ teaches us how to rely completely on God when we experience trials
of any kind. In our trials and pandemics God can always turn things around in our
lives, no matter how bad our condition is. There is always a light at the end
of the tunnel, the goodness of Good Friday.
The goodness
of Good Friday, we preach in this trying moment is also revealed in today’s
first reading (Isa 52:13-53:12), the fourth song of the Suffering Servant of God.
This dramatic and poignant song describes the sufferings and death of the
servant, giving rise to the servant’s description as “The Suffering Servants.” Even
though the servant as I have been commenting on throughout this week, was spurned,
beaten, insulted, and rejected, he did not open his mouth. It was our infirmities
and suffering that he endured. He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our
sins.
In
fact, in all 4 songs of the suffering servant, the Isaiah of Babylon showcases
God’s fidelity to the servant, and Christ, whom he has called and commission,
thereby assuring us alter Christus , another Christ, followers, brothers
and sisters of Christ, of God’s fidelity in time of dangers, such as
corona-virus.
Similarly
the unknown preacher in the second reading, the Letter to the Hebrews, communicates
to us the goodness of Good Friday when he says, “In the days of his flesh,
Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the
one who was able to save him from death” (Heb 5:7). Jesus uttered prayers like,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psa 22:1). He uttered prayers like,
“Into your hand I commit my spirit” (Psa 31:5). And God heard his prayers because
of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered,
and when he was made perfect, when he was raised from death, he became the source
of eternal salvation. The cross would never be the end of Jesus’ journey. In
faith, we can also claim the assurance that we are in this together, that
corona virus will not be the end of the world.
It will come and go. We will survive it, and come out stronger, with the
help of God.
We
emerge stronger with a lesson of hope in the Lord. We will emerge stronger of
awareness of our vulnerability and weaknesses but not for God. We will become increasing
aware of our brokenness, vincibility, our relational- connectivity of humanity, as well the universalism
of God’s love for us.
Global
politicians and leaders who may have in the past neglected provision of
hospitals, love, care, clinics, sense of patriotism, selfless services,
medicines, food, nourishment and other basic necessities of life for their
citizens would have learned a lessons! Family members who had not had time for family meals and to teach and learn from one anther at home may cease this moment to do so. May be it is a blessing in disguise!
In
other words, why Good Friday is good. On the redeeming and holy cross, Christ teaches
us how to love. On the cross, he teaches us how to hope. On the cross, he teaches
us how to endure our personal crosses (poverty, loneliness, illnesses, corona
virus, loss of our loved ones, etc.). On the cross, he teaches us how to be humble.
On the cross, he teaches us how to forgive and how to take charge in whatever we
do to the end—be it in our marriages, family and civil responsibilities, studies,
work, priestly life, or religious life. We are to take charge and endure to the
end.
Truly,
in that long passion narrative from the Gospel of John, Jesus is in charge. He tells
Judas Iscariot to do quickly what he came to do. He makes it clear to Pilate that
he has no authority over him. And, finally, Jesus dies kingly and triumphantly,
with “Jesus the King of the Jews” inscribed on his redeeming cross in different
languages. He did this to make today a universal and salvific Good Friday for
all, especially those afflicted by this pandemic.
As believers,
faithlessness, hatred, despair, violence, mockery, insults, jealousy, attitudes
of indifference in the face of injustice, and neglect of the poor, the sick,
the afflicted by this virus should not have authority over us. Rather, in the
face of today’s health-pandemic challenges that has no boundary, may we
increase our love and support for one another, and embrace more and more, the
faith, hope mercy and endurance taught us by Christ, today and in this moment
of Corona virus pandemic!
Reflection
Questions
1. Apart
from corona virus, what would you identify as your cross? How do you handle your
cross in light of today’s readings?
2. In
light of the Suffering Servant of today’s readings, how do you feel when you are
unjustly or falsely accused?
3. What
do crucifixes remind you of?
4. What
do you say to a member of your faith community who has been mocked, betrayed, unjustly
violated or afflicted by ongoing corona virus?
