Good Friday, April 14
Reflection
See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted. (Is. 52:13)
Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” (John 18: 4-5)
Look at the contrast in the two readings today. Isaiah plays to our human desire to do well, to be important. In the Gospel, Jesus simply answers, “I Am.” He has no need to impress others or to protect himself. He has come to the ultimate point of letting go.
Letting go of our ego (the need to be right, to be thought well of) is a lifelong challenge for us humans. It’s often easier to let go of possessions than to be nakedly honest about who I am―warts and all―before God. Let go of your façade for a moment today. It is simply enough to be you. God loves you (and me) unconditionally.
Readings
Readings for Good Friday, April 14
- Reading 1, Isaiah 52:13—53:12
- Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
- Reading 2, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
- Verse Before Gospel, Philippians 2:8-9
- Gospel, John 18:1—19:42
- Click here to go to USCCB Readings for Good Friday, April 14.