My dear brothers and sisters, on this day the Church commemorates the most significant event in human history – the crucifixion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us take a moment to contemplate the first reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah, which reminds us of the profound extent of Christ’s sacrifice for us.
Isaiah 52:13-53:12, describes the suffering and humiliation that Christ endured for our sake. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth in protest. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and he bore the sins of many.
We cannot fully comprehend the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice. We cannot fully understand the weight of the sins that he carried on the cross. But we can be certain of one thing – He did it for us. He did it out of love for us, so that we might be saved.
On this Good Friday, we are called to reflect on the enormity of Christ’s sacrifice. We are called to remember the pain and suffering that he endured for our sake. But we are also called to look ahead with hope and confidence. For we know that the story does not end with the cross. We know that Christ conquered death through his resurrection and opened the way for us to eternal life.
As we journey through this Holy Week, let us recall the affection and selflessness of our Lord Jesus Christ, express our thankfulness and admiration to Him, and aim to lead lives that mirror the compassion and grace that He has bestowed upon us.
May our hearts be reinvigorated with a sense of devotion and loyalty to our faith and may we be motivated to intensify our relationship with God through prayer, adoration, and benevolent acts towards others. Let us endeavor to be messengers of the transformative power of Christ’s love and spread the hope and redemption that can be found through faith in Christ.
May the sacrifice of Christ on the cross inspire us to greater love, greater compassion, and greater service to others. May we always remember the words of Isaiah and the love that Christ showed us: “By his wounds, we are healed.” Amen.
Have a contemplative Good Friday.
– Fr. James Anyaegbu
