Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne

Homily

Draw from the source

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 14:13). We know this account of Christ’s Passion well because we have heard and reflected upon it many times. And yet, it can never leave us indifferent. It is the Passion of a man abandoned, betrayed, and humiliated. It shows us a bewildering, revolting path where, seemingly, God remains silent.

But if we gather at church on Good Friday, it is not only to commemorate the anniversary of a 2000-year-old event; it is first and foremost to share in the voluntary sacrifice of Jesus who gives his life to save all men.

The cross is the victory of love. This is an absolutely crucial statement that perfectly encapsulates the message of this Good Friday. We must ask ourselves if we are truly capable of embracing it. Are we filled with the Holy Spirit to bear witness to it today in the daily lives we lead?

On this Good Friday, our gaze turns to the Cross of Christ. This cross symbolizes human suffering, our suffering. For many, it is called a long illness, suffering, failure, violence, or mourning. But the Cross of Christ is not a cross like any other. It is for all people and for each one of us, absolutely UNIQUE. It is our only hope because it is the victory of love. On this Good Friday, we do not celebrate suffering or death. We celebrate the sign of the immense love of Jesus Christ and God our Father for all people without exception. It is not a shameful cross, it is a glorious cross, it is the Cross of Love.

The cross of Christ, a sign of love and a sign of our salvation, remains a mystery to each of us. It is not easy to truly embrace it, especially if we know the sting of suffering. When everything is going well, when success, achievement, and health are present, it is easy enough to celebrate the cross as the victory of love. But when the Lord invites us to Gethsemane, we quickly recognize our limitations. So, what should we do on this Good Friday?

On this Good Friday, we gather to meditate on the untimely death of Christ. His earthly life was not long, but it was perfectly fulfilled because it was centered on Love. It found its fullness only beyond death, in the resurrection and final communion with the Father. This is indeed the symbol of our own personal journey. And yet… we too often forget that, on this earth, we are merely travelers. We have too much of a tendency to settle down. We know that Eternal Life begins on earth, but we forget that its end lies in the final encounter with God.

To deepen our understanding of the mystery of the cross, it is not enough to simply acclaim or venerate it. Nor is it enough to endlessly discuss this mystery. The most important thing is to follow Christ's example: He did not wait for Calvary to give his life. He did so day after day, in the course of his encounters, each time he placed himself at the service of the lowly, the sick, and the poor.

Many have understood that the best way to bear one's own cross is to bear the crosses of others; it is to bring back to life, and help to bring back to life, hope to all those who are despised, enslaved, sick, and discouraged. This is how we are called to celebrate the cross of Christ.

On this Good Friday, we will pray to the Holy Spirit for one another, that He may open each of our hearts to an ever-deepening understanding of the mystery of love that is the mystery of the Cross. And only then will we be able to sing in all truth: “Victory! You will reign. O Cross, you will save us.”