From 4/15/2019

Something I’ve been reflecting on over the last week...

“The Church is plunged into the Darkness of Good Friday” is the title of a recent interview with Robert Cardinal Sarah.

In the interview +Sarah states, “I firmly believe that the situation that we are experiencing within the Church resembles in every respect the situation of Good Friday...”

I’ve been thinking, “what does it mean to experience the darkness of Good Friday?” What does this look like? Certainly, there are deeper soteriological and eschatological implications to consider; but I wanted to ponder this just on the apparent surface. So here’s my thoughts...

When I think of Good Friday, I tend to primarily recall the obvious, sorrowful darkness of it. That Passion of our Lord. The crucifixion and death of Jesus. Now look closer at the surroundings of that Day and consider some of the different groups that were there.

At the foot of the cross were Our Sorrowful Mother, the Beloved Disciple, and the other Mary’s (Jn 19:25) and those who followed bewailing & lamenting Him (Lk 22:27). Those within the body of Christ who did not abandon Jesus in His suffering. Those who faithfully remained and entered into Jesus’ suffering. Compassion literally means to “suffer with” or “co-suffering”. Today within the Body of Christ, on Earth, there are those who remain true. Those disciples who enter into the suffering of Christ by denying themselves, picking up their crosses, & following Jesus (Lk 9:23, 14:27). The predestinate are to be conformed to the image of Him (Rom 8:29). This image does not exclude Christ crucified. I hope to be in the company of this group. Tho, I fall short very often. I’d hardly come close if it weren’t for God’s grace and mercy.

We can see those who condemn our Lord to His death (Lk 23:21). Jesus is a nuisance to their way of life; and they readily condemn and mock Him (Lk 23:35). Wishing Him to go away and be forgotten. We clearly see this scene too in our present time. Jesus’ Passion is palpable for this group and the aforementioned group. Both groups are deeply engaged in this cataclysmic event.

There are others on the scene. Bystanders who find themselves plunged into this epoch: • The centurion who witnessed the crucifixion and proclaimed the glory of our Lord (Mk 15:39). • Simon of Cyre’ne who was seized and made to carry the very cross that imbibed the Blood of the New Covenant (Lk 23:26). Going about their daily business, these people unexpectedly encountered the suffering Christ. I can relate to this in my own conversion & encounter with the King of kings.

Then there are those who are indifferent to the happenings. Just another Roman execution. Nothing noteworthy for them. Some soldiers dividing Jesus’ garments and casting lots trying get what they can from Christ not very concerned with Him otherwise (Jn 19:23-24). Unengaged. Not concerned with the divine claims of this God-man on a cross. This is a perspective with which I can ashamedly relate. There was a time (and at times still) that I just wanted to benefit from Christ redemptive act, but not partake of His divine nature (2 Pt 1:4). Unlike the first group of devout believers, I did not want to be crucified with Christ. No self-abandonment to Him. I did not want to enter into His Passion so that Christ might live in me (Gal 2:20). I simply wanted to cast lots, collect, & depart with my pleasures. Yet, I could not long ignore the suffering servant before me.

I will address one last group in hopes to avoid further prolixity. The group who, tho within the Body of Christ, abandoned, denied, and betrayed Christ. Those who were within the closest circle of disciples. Of the twelve... one betrayed Him, 10 abandoned Him, one denied Him, and only one remained at the foot of the cross. This is another perspective I can relate too. I can be within the embrace of Holy Mother Church, a member of the mystical body of Christ, yet still abandon my Lord when it gets tough. Deny and betray Jesus when it’s not convenient to be a Christian in the contemporary cultural climate. Speaking generally again, some citizens from the City of the world, false teachers (2 Pt 2:1) masquerading as if from the City of God, within the Church preach another Jesus, a low christology, a counterfeit christ (2 Cor 11:4, Gal 1:8). They deny and abandon Truth which is to deny and abandon Jesus (Jn 14:6).

This might not be revelatory insight for some, but it is for me. I’m sure far smarter men have figured this scene out long ago with far less effort. Nonetheless, this reflection has helped me to better imagine what it looks like to be plunged into the darkness of Good Friday for myself and the Church.