Homily from Good Friday 2020

We call this Good Friday, but this name seems counter-intuitive. We are here discussing the day of the Passion and death of Jesus. We read from the Passion, and at the same time, we celebrate this horrific moment. This reality is even more pronounced as we cannot gather together in one place as a community to venerate the cross. Yet there is hope in the cross. In the beautiful Passion narrative, we hear from John, and we know that he is not going to lose anyone that believes in Him.

So he again asked them,
“Whom are you looking for?”
They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.”
Jesus answered,
“I told you that I AM.
So if you are looking for me, let these men go.”
This was to fulfill what he had said,
“I have not lost any of those you gave me.”

Those of you in your homes are there so that we do not get anyone else sick, thereby saving lives. Christ saved lives with that statement in the garden. It was foretold of Jesus by the prophets, but we can relate to this statement in a new way during this crisis. We are scattered throughout the area, just as the disciples scattered from the garden that night.
While we here will venerate the cross that is processed in, we will ask all of you watching at home to venerate the cross or crucifix which you have chosen in your home. This action will allow our community to come together, though scattered, is a sign of hope and faith in the cross.
We have an advantage over the apostles during this day and age. We know how the story ends; the apostles had forgotten what Jesus had told them. The scattered apostles eventually all came back together in the upper room, just as we will gather again in the church to worship Christ.
With the Passion we hear of the suffering that Christ endured for our sake. Yet when it comes to the Eucharist, we will again celebrate this suffering in our acclamation. Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
We are quarantined in our homes, and like the apostles, we may feel isolation and fear due to this quarantine. We are reminded again of the Passion that Christ, even thru his suffering, will make sure that he cares for us. During the midst of his worst pain, he made sure that he took care of his mother and the apostles by tying them together to care for one another. The apostles were responsible for ensuring Mary’s well-being and Mary acting as a mother to us all.
Christ knew this was his fate, but he also knew that in submitting to His crucifixion without a fight that he was doing this for his friends, the apostles, and for us today. Christ died for our sins on this Good Friday. We know that while he dies today in three days, on Easter Sunday, he will rise again, thereby defeating even death.
We are currently sitting in our upper room, waiting for the cure, the apostles sat in their upper room, waiting for Christ to remind them of what he said. Christ accepted His Cross for us even though he knew we are sinners, all the while still spreading the message of peace, compassion, and love. He did this right up until his death. The apostles came together again out of fear, but also out of hope. The hope that all that Jesus had taught and told them would come to pass.
During this time of stress, while we sit in our upper room, fearing what may happen if we venture out, we should be bringing Christ into our homes, for the closer we are to Christ, the more he will strengthen us. This hope in Christ can help us to allay our doubts and fears. We can be more compassionate to those we are spending more time with than usual.
When we look at this crisis through the lens of the cross, we see that our current suffering is nothing compared to what Christ suffered. We know why he suffered on the cross to redeem us and save us from the power of death. We know that eventually, we will all pass from this life, and for those who believe and follow Christ teaching, there is the promise of eternal life with Him.
We, like the apostles, though, have a strength given to us by knowing Christ. We know that after Good Friday comes, Easter and Christ rose from the dead. There will be an end to the coronavirus pandemic even though listening to the news. It may not seem that way. Through Christ and his friendship, the apostles overcame their fear that came from the belief the same fate awaited those who followed Him. Yet they still believed in his friendship and his teachings enough to come together after his crucifixion to support one another. We do the same, even though it is a virtual gathering, to help support one another and look to Christ to assist us.
Through this, we are reminded that eternal hope comes from His Cross. Christ will not forsake us, even though we may be scattered and alone. He will come to us and help us to overcome this crisis so that we can freely gather again as a community in one place. This is the hope we carry through this unusual time in our lives. May the peace and hope seen in Christ crucified be upon all of those gathered here and all those in their homes around the world.