Date: April 10, 2020 ()

Bible Text: First Reading: ACTS 10:34A, 37-43; Gospel: JN 20:1-9 |

Series:

Good Friday Reflection

"See, there were these two guys in a lunatic asylum... and one night, one night they decide they don't like living in an asylum any more. They decide they're going to escape! So, like, they get up onto the roof, and there, just across this narrow gap, they see the rooftops of the town, stretching away in the moonlight... stretching away to freedom. Now, the first guy, he jumps right across with no problem. But his friend, his friend didn't dare make the leap. Y'see... Y'see, he's afraid of falling. So then, the first guy has an idea... He says "Hey! I have my flashlight with me! I'll shine it across the gap between the buildings. You can walk along the beam and join me!" B-but the second guy just shakes his head. He suh-says... He says "Wh-what do you think I am? Crazy? You'd turn it off when I was halfway across! See, even those who cannot distinguish fear are afraid.

Somebody said: Your audience may be disappointed if you don't trot out the standard Mark Twain quote: "There are two types of speakers: those who are nervous and those who are liars."

Yes, I know, because I have been to many situations where fear just paralyzes me. If we would ask, was Jesus afraid too? Human as He is, I think, there must have been a particular moment when Jesus felt it. But, certainly not as much, because Joseph and Mary since his growing years had always been the most caring and loving parents to Jesus. We could only wonder how Joseph protected the Holy family from the wrath of Herod, who had all the powers and means to find the child Messiah.

Jesus was brave because He had grown up in a family where His father and mother always got his back. But His growing sense of courage does not all the time come from His family. He knew that one day Joseph and Mary would be helpless and could not protect Him anymore. But there is a deeper source of His courage. It is when He was sure that His Father in Heaven is the certainty that never fails.

Throughout His public ministry, Jesus calls out to His Father in faith and trust. He lived this trust every day. And His full, unreserved dependence to His Father was just worth it! That’s why even the thought of impending death cannot make Him a coward. He faced His enemies like the brave, who know not how to run away.

In this time of debilitating fear of death, Jesus’ courage gives us peace when we realize that the One in whom we entrust our lives has never broken His promise.

But why was Jesus so distressed at the garden of Gethsemane - sweating drops of blood; even asking the Father if this cup would pass from Him? But, eventually what prevailed was the will of His Father. Was it because of fear? No, it was because of anguish and suffering.

And Jesus is telling us today: we do not fear suffering. We endure suffering. This is what it means when Jesus tells us to embrace our own crosses. And only those who have the courage to take it, can have that same peace Jesus had, amidst the beating, the insults, and the torment; and perhaps today, amidst the threat of coronavirus.

In this moment of Christ’s passion, He is inviting us to allow ourselves to be assured by the love of the Father. In the most concrete way, this love is now manifested to us by the love of the Son that culminates to His crucifixion.

One of the best things I understand about the love of God for us is its height and depth. In misery and infortunes, how far will the Lord go with us? Well, He has walked with us through Calvary and to the grave. When no one can accompany us in our wretchedness, Jesus’ love is there even to the point of joining us into our deaths. What a great God!

And there’s something greater that would happen after His descending into the dead. The Lord would take all of us out from the grave. And God’s love will take us upon the heights as high as the heavens. That’s where our true home is. Jesus already told Pilate: “My kingdom does not belong to this world.”

As we draw closer to the end of the celebration of the Passion of our Lord, we ask ourselves what would I want myself to become after going through the Lenten journey and the observance of Holy Week? The most important thing I had in mind as far as I am concerned is conversion and continued conversion.

I want to be changed by the Love of God - His love that makes possible the change of mind and heart. His love that humbles me to sorrow for my sins and repent. His love that tells me I am worth dying for and like a jewel, I am redeemed. His love that takes away all my fears, even with this threatening pandemic, because with God, there are no broken promises; there is a beautiful and glorious future; there are surprises and healing when I only have to trust Him. His love that leads me to the Light and Truth, so that I will live in the freedom of the children of Light - free from the enslavement to sin and vices. His love makes me feel blest and grateful every day because He provides. He has greater plans for me, and everything He does for me is good and beautiful. His love can do all things, conquers all things, and gathers all things to Himself.

Behold Jesus on the cross by which the world received redemption. Behold Jesus pierced upon His side, from which gushes forth mercy and grace. Thank you, Lord Jesus for dying for us to save us!