The
Longest Good Friday
We are in the season of Lent, and entered the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and up to the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday then Easter Sunday). This is the culmination of the 40 days.
On Holy Thursday we have the Last Supper Mass, and at the
Good Friday service we remember the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and
burial of Jesus. Then in the evening Holy Saturday is the Easter Vigil, when we
welcome the newest members of our church and begin the celebration of our
Lord's Resurrection.
On
this we base our faith: Our redemption through Jesus Christ. That is why we
have hope, because Jesus overcame death and gives us a chance at eternal life.
If we don't believe in what Jesus accomplished or we've lost hope for eternal
life then we are living with a "Good Friday" mentality.
When
Jesus died the Disciples and other followers were hopeless -- there was no
leader, no king, no victory and no future. They were scared because the
security they felt in Jesus' presence was gone. But then came the resurrection.
It
was not just the Resurrection of Jesus' Body. It was also their reconciliation to the
kingdom of God, the Resurrection of their hope, strength, and renewal of life
for us all. Jesus' Resurrection means
all these things to us still. Jesus is
the "mourning-after" remedy. No longer do we have to mourn the loss
caused by Adam's and Eve's sin. Our hope
is alive again.
We have been given a release from the "Good Friday mindset,
to focus on the "Easter" perspective. We have reconciled to the
kingdom of God and reconnected to hopefulness.
We have the everlasting Leader, King, Victory and Future.
Jesus’ resurrection is the key to our salvation. That key is
love, the Word made flesh, that saved us. A key unlocks the door, but going
through still requires some action. Jesus showed us The Way, proclaimed The Truth,
and shares The Life. Being one with
Christ means living the Resurrection.
Jesus is alive and we are alive in Him. His tomb was empty -- Are we still entombed in
some way? Eternal Life is within our
grasp. Latch on to that!
When I saw this picture, I commented "That was the first Black Friday, but with eternal savings."
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