Good Friday 2008 Reflection: "Jesus’ Friendship is the essence of Good Friday"

GOOD FRIDAY REFLECTION

21 March 2008 Good Friday – Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (A) - Red

First Reading: Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31 "Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit."
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Gospel: John 18:1 – 19:42

Jesus’ Friendship is the essence of Good Friday

During the mandatum of Holy Thursday, the reenactment of the Washing of the Feet, the choir sang this very beautiful song which actually reflects the very essence of Good Friday. This song is entitled “Pagkakaibigan.” Basically, it vividly recalls Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet by being a servant-friend. More importantly, the song captures the title itself – friendship. This pagkakaibigan is the very essence of Good Friday.

The opening line goes: “Ang sino man sa Aki'y mananahan, mananahan din Ako sa kanya. At kung siya'y mamunga nang masagana, siya sa Ama'y nagbigay ng karangalan.” This is the promise of Christ at the Last Supper table – whoever remains in me, I remain in him. On the way to Calvary, Jesus also says this: whoever joins me on the way of my cross, I join him in his own sufferings. What a beautiful image of a friend! And because we are his friends, Jesus makes sure that we bear fruit, that this friendship bears fruit. He calls us to friendship and asks us to be one with him in his suffering and death. He asks us, his friends, to keep watch over him as he goes through the way of his cross.

And as Jesus hang on the wood of the cross, Jesus may be telling the world: “Mula ngayon kayo'y Aking kaibigan hinango sa dilim at kababaan. Ang kaibiga'y mag-aalay ng sarili niyang buhay; walang hihigit sa yaring pag-aalay.” He accepted the cross not because he wanted to show the world he is mighty. He accepted the cross because he loved us so much. He is our friend. He died for us – his friends. He tells us that we are his friends – who were in darkness but have seen great light in him. And the greatest mystery that Jesus’ example of friendship is this: that I will give my life, my own life, and nothing is greater than that. The greatest love story of all is commemorated today – Jesus’ love for us is so immense that in order for us to be saved, he gave his own life. Because he so wanted us to be with his Father in heaven, he gave himself to be spitted on by the Jews, jeered on the passers-by, and mocked by the outsiders. Our own friendship with our friends is nothing compared to the friendship Jesus made with us.

Today, as we venerate the cross on which hung the Savior of the world, we remember with special devotion the friendship Jesus has made with us. Jesus is our friend. Without this friendship, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is nothing.

The song ends with the challenge for today’s celebration of the Lord’s Passion: “Pinili ka't hinirang upang mahalin nang mamunga't bunga mo'y panatilihin. Humayo ka't mamunga nang masagana, kagalakang walang hanggang ipamamana.” After all, the death of Jesus on the cross, his friendship, comes down to one gift – the happiness of eternal salvation. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Elijah Justin Santiago Segovia