An encounter with Good Friday: The liturgy on Good Friday begins in silence. We dont need a “gathering rite.” It is as though we have been gathered since the night before. The first act of the liturgy is for the Presider and ministers to lie face down before the cross, in silence. As with all liturgical rituals, that invites us to lie prostrate before the cross as well. As I lay prostate there were two questions that I asked my self: What have I given up to my God? ( to voluntary offer with no hesitation). I can think of many! First , I have given my commitment to Him as I received the Sacraments of Christian Initiations: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. I have publicly uttered my Faith in the triune God and my verbal refusal to be mastered by sin and its glamor. Second, I have given my yes to His invitation to walk with Him as a priest! Third , I have given my life in the service of the people He loves! But What have I given of for God? ( to voluntary or give ones self or ones abundance). What have I given to God in abundance? Yes, I am a baptized Catholic but what makes me different from those who are not? What defines me as Catholic Christian? Let us never forget that the Catholic Church has all the gifts necessary for our salvation! The Sacred Scriptures, Traditions, Liturgy: most importantly the Eucharist, the other Six Sacraments, Mary and Apostolic tradition! Have I given of my all to receive all these gifts from the church? I am a priest! What have I given of in Abundance? I read this morning the letter of a friend missionary priest in Japan! And I find myself in the same boat! He said: I am not happy when I wanted to stand out, when I craved for special attention, when I longed for more things; I am not happy when I dont pray in lieu of work!!! I am not happy when I know, I have simply given up but not giving of my life in abundance! This afternoon, we all sit in darkness. Good Friday is often called the darkest day of the Churchs calendar of the year. We all visit our darkest moments, our failures, our sinfulness. We all realize that we have not given of ourselves to God in abundance! Let us look at the Cross. Let us look up at Jesus who has not simply given up but given of himself for all of us! In His self -giving, Jesus has freed us from darkness and the bondage of sin. We only have to say YES! In order to fully benefit from His graces!!! Today, Jesus visits our darkness and invites us to walk in the Light!!!! Let there be light for all of us!!!
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 04:56:44 +0000
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