April 18, Good Friday

Living This Week’s Gospel “Let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”

-Matthew 26:39

As we recall the events of the Crucifixion, we may ask why God the Father allows his Son to withstand all this suffering! Even though he has identified Jesus as his “beloved Son”, he does not save him from the Roman soldiers. We often find ourselves in this same thought as we examine the overwhelming obstacles that our brothers and sisters in poverty face, asking, why does God allow this to happen to his children?

Jesus answers this question in this Sunday’s Gospel saying, “Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?”

Jesus never asks for God to send those angels down to rescue him, even though he knows he can; he doesn’t stop the Romans or the crowds from crucifying him; he humbly accepts God’s will and only prays for the strength to carry it out. This is Jesus’ love for us: Even though he had free will to choose anything he wanted, he chose to die for us.

When we look at the crucifix today and recall the story of Jesus’ death, it’s natural to feel sadness and even an element of guilt. But we must remember that Jesus’ hands were not always nailed down; they moved freely, in an act of unconditional, merciful love.