On the evening when he had gathered with his disciples, Jesus showed them such tenderness, such love that he surprised them ... and he had told them to love one another. Then, later that night he was arrested and thrown into prison (Jn 18:1-12, 19-24). Was this too an act of love? The next morning, he was put on trial? (Jn 18:28-40) Was that an act of love? The soldiers whipped him and put a crown of thorns on his head? (Jn 19:1-2) Such cruel torture, such pain ... and yet he said nothing. Others jeered at him. They made him carry his own cross! (Jn 19:17-18) He had seen such torture being executed before. Crucifixions were not unheard of, but how could this be an act of love? He watched the soldiers throw dice for his clothing, his only possessions ... as though it was a game (Jn 19:23-24). Those soldiers were just like us: they saw what was happening, but they didn't understand.
With his dying breath, he still spoke words of love. He knew that his mother, who was with him even in that moment of torture, would need someone to care for her, so he entrusted her to the disciple whom he loved: Woman, here is your son ... here is your mother (Jn 19:26-27). He knew that they both would need each other. They would need to love and care for each other.
I am thirsty ... it is finished (Jn 19:28, 30). The last words Jesus spoke before he died. Was this really an act of love?
What really happened that day? How can this day be called Good Friday if it was such a day of suffering and pain? In order to understand the meaning of these actions, we need to see the drama of that day in the light of the prophecy of Isaiah: He grew up before the Lord like a young plant ... he had no form or majesty that we should look at him ... he was despised and rejected ... a man of suffering and acquainted with grief ... We accounted him stricken, bu he was wounded for our transgressions (Is 53:2-5).
It was because of God's great love for us, for you and for me, that he sent his Son into this world. He came in order to convince us that we are loved. Why is it so difficult for us to understand this? Why is it that even though we may be people of great faith, we all have moments, like Peter, when we are afraid to speak our truth and to tell others about Jesus? Why is it that, like the other disciples, we run away from situations at the first sign of conflict instead of seeing them as opportunities to love and to invite others into dialogue that will lead to deeper understanding? Why is it that we choose to inflict torture on those we do not know or understand instead of taking the time to listen to their stories and trying to love them? Why is it that we find it easier to strip others of their dignity, to play games with their hearts instead of having the courage to introduce them to the heart of God who loves with no limits?
In these extraordinary times, we are hearing many stories of great courage. Every act of self-giving is another example of how we can change our lives, how we can find the courage to change the world we live in. Today, let us ask the Lord to grant us the courage to look on, to look to his cross ... and let us ask him to help us not to look uncomprehendingly any longer. Instead, let us ask him to help us come to understand that his death on the cross was his ultimate act of love.
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