Good Friday marks the death of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The altar is bare. Crosses are removed or covered. Statues are covered. The Eucharist no longer resides in the tabernacle on the altar. Christ is gone – crucified, died.

As there is no such thing as time with God, the faithful live the passion of Christ as told in John 18:1—19:42.

John’s passion opens with Judas’ betrayal and Jesus’ arrest and trial before the Sanhedrin. Jesus is handed over to Pilate who finds no guilt with him and gives the Jews the option of setting him free. They choose Barabbas. Pilate has Jesus scourged and again says that he finds no guilt in Jesus. The crowd shouts, “Crucify him!” Pilate hands him over to be crucified and has the following inscription put on the cross: I.N.R.I.

When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. – John 19:30

It is said that Jesus died for our sins. It may also be said that Jesus died because of our sins. Some may find it unnerving to read the part of the crowd during the passion, “Crucify him!” the congregation recites. How is it that those who faithfully attend Mass on Sunday can repeat such a horrible command? What does this have to do with us? A lot.


Jesus Christ Was Fully Human

“Jesus was without sin, but in his human nature, he was subject to all that human beings suffer, including hatred from others, torture, and death itself,” explains the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults.

Fr. Robert Barron explains in Stay with Us, Lord: Daily Scriptural Reflections for Lent, “Christ comes as the new Adam, and here’s the high paradox of Christianity: God himself does not grasp at divinity, but lets go of it. And in that action of letting go, the curse of Adam is undone.” We are freed from sin.

“Everyone one of us, from the dawn of history to the end of time, who in pride and disobedience has sinned, [is] in some way responsible [for the death of Jesus],” the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults clarifies. Sin is that which separates us from God – that which is completely opposite of what He calls us to do: to be one body. If sin separates us from just one person, we are separated from God, as his spirit lives in all of us. We are temples of his Holy Spirit.

On Palm Sunday, we hear about the joyful greeting of Jesus as he enters Jerusalem. This represents all of us who believe in him. In contrast, our words during the reading of the passion, “Crucify him!” represent our sinfulness in spite of our belief.

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday

Good Friday is the only day that Catholics do not celebrate the Eucharist. The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion begins with the reading of the passion according to John. Afterward, the congregation is invited forward to venerate the cross. Communion is distributed from the Eucharist that was consecrated during the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. For this reason, the Good Friday service was once known as the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified.

Throughout salvation history, God transforms our sinfulness into something good. Crucifixion was a horrifying, shameful death commonly used in ancient times. God transformed this symbol of torture into a symbol of hope, freedom, and faith. The crucifix is a symbol of Christ’s unfathomable love for us. That is why this day is called Good Friday.

Tweet