About caryana.Org

Commentaries on the News

A Program of Spiritual Formation for Candidates to the Priesthood

The Lay Monastic Community of Caryana


 
 
 

Search

 

 


GOSPEL COMMENTARIES


 

 

GOOD FRIDAY (JOHN 18:1-19;42)

God loves to thwart the plans of the wicked. His enemies wanted to erase His work by crucifying Him; instead, they occasioned the culmination of His mission. They wanted His death to be a cause of fear for His followers. Instead, His death gave His followers the hope of life. Christ's seeming mortality became the restoration of our immortality.

Even in human affairs, when we see others, specially a loved one, suffer or punished for a wrong we have done, we feel bad. . .that is, if we have a kind heart. . .and this inspires us to repent. Well, every suffering of Christ was borne for our sake. . .for my sake. Only one with a hard heart will not be moved by that. He took on Himself the punishment imposed on sinners. . .namely, us.

Because of original sin we  have the tendency to refuse obeying God's laws. To set us free from this curse, Christ had to die. So He carried the cross and underwent the death that was rightfully ours. By His passion and death, He destroyed the power of death and became for us the source of eternal life. Freeing us from the tendency to disobey God's laws He now expects us to obey God's laws. 

So Christ left commandments by which we can follow Him. And though the first commands are easy, being meant for beginners, the subsequent commands become more difficult. And Christ's example today shows the courage that is needed to obey them. We must obey His commands even if it kills us. That is perfection. . .that is the lesson of Good Friday. In so doing, we are assured of a resurrection and eternal bliss in heaven. And dying means dying to one's former way of worldly life.

St. Cyril 

 

 

 

 

 

(01-22-03)

[ Home ]  [ Gospel Commentaries-Main [ Return to Top [ Continue ] 


 

 


The Winnowing Fan hopes ..." to do what little it could to solve the evils that beset the church."

                                                                                        - Teresa of Avila

 


Winnowing Fan and Guadalupe Series are owned and Copyrighted by S. of G. Foundation.
Articles therein maybe freely copied, distributed and re-published in full or in part without written authorization provided appropriate acknowledgement is made.  

 © 2001, caryana.org All rights reserved