Lenten Meditation – Good Friday

Todays Readings – Good Friday

 

Good Friday Meditation

As we gaze upon the solemn mystery of the death of Our Divine Savior, Jesus Christ, words fail us. Witnessing the depths of His love and His suffering we kneel before Him in compassionate silence and reverence. We can learn somewhat how to enter these profound moments of our Redemption by turning to the Saints. One saint has always been helpful to me in this regard: St. Bonaventure.

In his meditation on the Passion, he writes:

The innocent Lamb was lifted up on the cross as a spectacle, in the midst of thieves, outside the gate in the place of punishment for criminals on that solemn day at noon, while His friends wept and His enemies scoffed. The most mild Lamb prayed out of the sweetness of His kindness to His Father for those who were crucifying Him and deriding him; and to the thief who confessed and implored him, He promised paradise out of His most generous charity.

O words full of sweetness and forgiveness:

“Father, forgive them!”

O words full of love and grace:

“Today you will be with me

In paradise!”

Breathe in peace now, O Soul,

In hope of pardon,

However great a sinner you are.

Say with much confidence:

“Have pity on me O God,

Have pity on me,

Because I trust in you.”

My prayer for all of us is that at the moment of our death we will hear the words spoken to the repentant thief: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

–Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, CFR