Homily for Good Friday: "Called to stand near the cross of Jesus"

30 March 2018 (Abu Dhabi).

Below is the text of Bishop Paul's homily for Good Friday. 

 “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.” Many other people were staying near the cross: the soldiers and executioners, some religious leaders and passer-by, for Golgotha was close to the city. Most of them made contemptuous comments. The friends of Jesus had taken flight, except the women and a few other sympathizers.

Today we are here, staying near the cross because we believe that he is our Lord and God, and that his death is the reason of our life. We have prayed the Stations of the Cross expressing our solidarity with Jesus in his passion. We just listened to the Word of God and let it enter our hearts. In a few moments we present trustfully the solemn intercessions to the Lord. Finally, we shall uncover the veiled Cross and adore Christ crucified before we receive the bread of life in the Holy Communion.

Those who were staying near the cross as friends of Jesus took over a commitment: John, his disciple, was getting the Mother of Jesus into his care. Joseph of Arimathea was engaged with a worthy burial of Jesus. The women watched carefully, where the body of the Master was buried. As they knew the place, they would be the first who after the Sabbath went to the tomb early in the morning to give the last honour to the one they had loved so much. They were the first to know about Jesus’s resurrection and thus became his witnesses.

Staying near the cross implies a commitment also for us. First of all, we have to have the courage to endure the situation on Calvary and not to flee or to look the other way. Jesus wants us to address the reality of the cross in this world where so many people are tortured, abused, killed and finally simply disposed like trash. We are challenged like Josef of Arimathea and Nicodemus to do what is in our possibilities to give honour to every human being even in his last moment, even if he is considered as a criminal.

Staying near the cross obliges us to take care of the surviving dependant who like Mary, the Mother of Jesus, are mourning. It does not need a lot of words, only compassion and the readiness to offer hospitality and communion to people who are suddenly deprived of their beloved ones.

Dear friends in Christ, staying near the cross means keeping alive the spark of hope with the women, who sensed that Calvary was not simply the end. They must have heard the word of Jesus “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.” Who prays like that must be the redeemer of the World. Hence, we profess with the pagan centurion: “Truly this man was God’s Son!”  “Truly, this man is God’s Son!”