As Christians prepare
to celebrate Good Friday our Jewish brothers and sisters prepare to celebrate
Passover. It is not often that Good
Friday and the first night of the eight-day Jewish festival are celebrated on
the same day. The rare convergence of the observances is a reminder of how the
religious traditions are linked.
Passover, which
celebrates the Israelites’ Exodus from slavery in Egypt, also played a role in
the last days of Jesus. Like many Jews of his time, Jesus participated in the
annual Passover pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It was while he celebrated the
festival that, according to biblical accounts, Jesus was arrested by Roman
soldiers; Good Friday is the Christian holy day marking his crucifixion and death. On Good Friday we commemorate the day that
Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for
our sins. Jesus endured the cross on
Good Friday, knowing it led to his resurrection, our salvation, and the
beginning of God’s reign of righteousness and peace.
As we celebrate Good
Friday and Passover let us remember the words of Pope Francis – “On Good Friday
we will meditate on the mystery of Christ’s death and we will adore the
Cross.” During the last instants of his
life, “before handing over the spirit” – he said – Jesus said “it is finished”
(John 19, 30), meaning – the Pope explained – that Salvation has taken place;
“that with his sacrifice Jesus has transformed the greatest injustice into the
greatest love.”
By his sacrifice –
Francis said - sin has been overcome through love, an immense love which we are
called to live and transmit. Throughout
the centuries – he continued – many men and women have borne witness to this
perfect, uncontaminated love, with their very existence. Let us live each day with this kind of love
for one another.
Sr. Pat
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