NOTE: IT IS NOT A MASS OR THE CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST, BUT A COMMEMORATION OF A FUNERAL SERVICE. ALSO, THE PASSION IS PROCLAIMED WITHOUT CANDLES, INCENSE, PRELIMINARY GREETINGS AND SIGNING OF THE BOOK, NOR KISSING OF THE BOOK AT THE END. THE UNVEILING AND VENERATION OF THE CROSS MUST NOT DEGENERATE INTO A “WET” OR FRESH FUNERAL. PLEASE, A FORM OF A MEMORIAL SERVICE MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN A TYPICAL FORM OF TRADITIONAL MOURNING (Cf. Ordo).
COLLECT: “REMEMBER YOUR MERCIES, O LORD, AND WITH YOUR ETERNAL PROTECTION SANCTIFY YOUR SERVANTS, FOR WHOM CHRIST YOUR SON, BY THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD, ESTABLISHED THE PASCHAL MYSTERY. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
“LORD JESUS, HAVE MERCY ON US. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED AND RECEIVE THEIR SOULS IN HEAVEN”.
Is 52:13-53:12; Ps 30:2,6,12-13,15-17,25; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42
Today we commemorate God’s goodness and love for sinful humanity as he gave his only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our salvation. Jesus is described as Isaiah, the Son of Man, who willingly “surrendered himself to death” that sins might be forgiven. The Son, by his obedience to the Father, becomes “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him”. This is the meaning of this “Friday” being called “Good Friday”, otherwise, literally, it should not be called so because without the eyes of faith, what happened on that fateful day over two thousand and twenty-five (2025) years ago was nothing good to merit the name GOOD FRIDAY.
Indeed, we celebrate our salvation, our redemption, which symbolises and signifies the Cross. The cross is also the sign of our Catholic faith and belief in God, that trusting and relying on him in faith, God will save and redeem us. The cross represents in our lives, whatever persecution, suffering, pain, hardship, betrayal, disappointment, trouble, torture and the like that we are going through in this earthly life. Such moments are the crosses in our lives.
See Jesus Christ as your model and carry them daily to him and follow him: ‘whoever wants to be my disciple must carry his/her cross daily and follow me’. It also goes without saying that ‘there is no glorification without the cross’. If we understand the above, then we should know that we cannot do without suffering, betrayal and hardships (our crosses) in this world otherwise, in our sufferings we would run here and there for unsuccessful deliverance and salvation.
On the cross, Jesus Christ shows us his greatest love by laying down his dear life for his loved ones. His life can perfectly be described as a grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies, and therefore, not remaining alone, a single grain, it produces or bears much fruit (“something must die for the soup to be palatable” – Dagaaba proverb).
As we commemorate Good Friday today, let us adore, praise and glorify Christ and remind ourselves, pray, meditate and reflect on why and how:
1. JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH: let us pray for ourselves as well as for people who are unfairly or unjustly judged, treated and condemned. We also pray for people who because of their positions, manipulate the system and distort what is right for their own selfish gains, benefits and advantage that, the Lord may reform them.
2. JESUS TAKES UP THE CROSS: Let us pray for patient endurance and divine grace to carry our individual crosses daily after the example of Jesus Christ and follow him in faith.
3. Jesus falls the first time under the heavy weight of the cross: we pray for ourselves and for all classes of sinners that, we and all sinners may not remain in our sins but try to turn new leaves.
4. Jesus meets his sorrowful mother: let us pray for people who have nobody to care for them, especially orphans, widows/widowers, the sick, those they have neglected, the poor and the needy that God may touch the hearts of people to care for such people.
5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross: we pray that we may live Jesus’ second greatest commandment of “love of neighbour as oneself”. We also pray that we may treat others as we would treat Jesus.
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus: let us pray for people who act as “saviours” and “redeemers” for people who are in one trouble or the other. Lord, bless them as you left a sign of your abundant blessing (the imprint of your face) with Veronica.
7. Jesus falls the second time: let us pray for people who for one reason or another are not in the state of divine grace to receive the Sacraments, especially the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation (Penance) that the Lord may show them a way and be their source of consolation.
8. Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem: let us pray for the unloved and those who have nobody to talk to them, console them and sympathise with them that God through other people may come to their aid.
9. Jesus falls a third time: we continue to pray for ourselves who, because of our weaknesses and frailties, we constantly fall into sin, that through the spirit of humility, we may always come to Jesus Christ through the Sacrament of Penance to lift us and give us strength to continue.
10. Jesus is stripped of his clothes: let us pray for people who gossip, backbite and tell lies about others, thereby in a way, ‘stripping others of their clothes and leaving them naked’, that Jesus Christ may transform such people to be God-fearing people.
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross: let us pray for those who suffer persecution, pain and hardship because they stand for the truth and what is right, that they may be encouraged and patiently endure, seeing Jesus Christ as their example and model.
12. Jesus dies on the cross and Mary his mother stands there watching: let us pray for all those who have died, especially our loved and dear ones. We also pray for people who will die today that Jesus, the Lord of Life and Resurrection may grant them peaceful death and eternal life.
13. Jesus is taken off the cross: let us pray for all parents and people who take care of others including leaders the world over, that Jesus Christ may grant them the spirit and virtues of patience, tolerance and unfailing love for their children and those entrusted into their care.
14. Jesus is buried in the TOMB: let us pray for people (and for ourselves) who, because of disappointments and failures in life, they sometime think that life is not worth living, that Jesus Christ may restore life to them and inspire them to value and appreciate life. Lord Jesus Crucified, Buried and Resurrected! Have Mercy on Us All!
WE MEDITATE TODAY, FRIDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “ALMIGHTY EVER-LIVING GOD, WHO HAVE RESTORED US TO LIFE BY THE BLESSED DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, PRESERVE IN US THE WORK OF YOUR MERCY, THAT, BY PARTAKING OF THIS MYSTERY, WE MAY HAVE A LIFE UNCEASINGLY DEVOTED TO YOU. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN"
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863.
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