Reflection 1

Below, Dominican Sister of Hope Cecelia James Hayes, O.P. shares a brief reflection on Good Friday. Read slowly; allow the words to fill your consciousness. What in this reflection speaks to you?

"I cannot but help to think that with all Jesus's pain and suffering, he still was that Marvelous Teacher, and he uses Veronica to teach us now. Veronica's compassionate heart and brazen action are an example for all of us. Through Jesus, Veronica taught us to be as she was and to do as she did: wipe the tears from a little child's face; wipe a homeless woman or man's dirty face after sleeping in a filthy alleyway; wipe the face of someone with a fever; wipe the face of migrant workers; wipe the face of injustices and the evils in this world. Knowing that we do this with a compassionate heart, we, like Veronica, are not only wiping the Face of Jesus, but seeing the Face of God!"

Background photo by Felix Hernandez, O.P.

Reflection 2

by Dominican Sister of Hope Catherine Walsh, O.P.

As a child, Good Friday was a solemn day without any liturgical celebration. We tried —and I mean tried— to keep silence from noon until 3 pm. Stations of the cross were celebrated, but otherwise there were no services. I can remember being at home in silence waiting for 3 pm. The minutes dragged on and the three hours seemed like an eternity. All I remember is wondering why Jesus would die for my sins like fighting with my brother, anger, and so on.

But, as I got older, I found out there were much larger sins, many more sins Jesus died for on that cross.

Yet, the Exultet sung at the Easter Vigil service says of sin: “O truly necessary sin of Adam, which the death of Christ has blotted out! O Happy Fault that merited such and so great a Redeemer!” So Jesus’s sacrifice that blotted out the sin of Adam is not over. The generous gift of the suffering of the Son of God is a gift we are challenged to continue. The redemption must continue. And it does.

Many refuse to let human trafficking continue. Young students stand up to gun violence. Domestic violence, abuse of children, rape and on and on have those who advocate and care for the victims. The redemption continues. It continues with those who pray and minister to the sinners as well.

The time we spend remembering the death of Jesus today is time for us to also remember our role in joining in his sacrifice by continuing the redemptive of acts of compassion and standing for justice. That God leapt down to be human like us is magnified by His giving himself to unbearable suffering for our faults and sins. All sins! We join in the redemptive act by being what He calls us to be Christ- bearers.

I still wonder why we have a God so generous who would suffer for us.

Perhaps we should spend this day in gratitude for our redemption and examine our role in living out our call to be part of the continuing redemption. And as we say, “ Father into Your Hands I commend my spirit,” we deepen our commitment to give our spirit over to joining with the generous sacrifice of Jesus in continuing the redemption of our world.

Concluding Prayer

Today we pray for all those who suffer and sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others. May their pain be brief and their impact everlasting.

Taken from 100 Days of Prayer