Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 / Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Good Friday is that one day in the calendar of the Church that does not have Mass.
Instead, it is a service.
And this Good Friday service is also different from what we are familiar with.
There are the readings, with a particularly long gospel reading.
And then there is the Solemn Intercessions, where prayers are offered for various intentions.
Following that is the unveiling of the Cross.
The Cross with the crucified Christ is unveiled in three movements.
When the Cross is fully unveiled, we are called to look at the crucified Christ, and ponder.
As we look at the Cross, let the Cross speak to us.
Let the Cross tell us that Jesus was crucified on it because He willingly died for our sins to save us.
Let the Cross tell us that in the crucified Christ is also the forgiveness of the sins of the world.
Let the Cross tell us that in the suffering and the crucified Christ, we see the horrors and tragedies of war and violence.
Let the Cross tell us that in the suffering and crucified Christ, is also the sufferings of the innocent, the defenceless, the children, the weak and the poor.
Yes, the Cross tells us of suffering and bloodshed, of respect and dignity being disregarded and trampled upon.
But it is also this Cross of suffering and pain that we will come forward to venerate.
We want to tell Jesus that we will carry our cross and follow Him and to pray for peace.
We want to believe in the power of prayer and in the power of the Cross.
Jesus turned the Cross of suffering, pain and death and turned it into the Cross of redemption and salvation.
So, let us embrace the Cross, and also embrace the crucified Christ.
The crucified Christ will save us from our sins.
The crucified Christ will also save the world and grant us peace.