Good Friday

Readings: Is 52:13-53:12; Heb 4:14-16, 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42 (Passion)

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From the Gospel: “Jesus answered: ‘My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my subjects would be fighting to save me from being handed over to the Jews. As it is my kingdom is not here’” (Jn18:36).

Thought for the day: There is a word in the Bible and in the liturgy of the days before Easter, especially on Good Friday, that describes and summarizes all that goes on with Jesus: he gave his life for all. It is not only a resignation to his fate. He changes the course of events. He himself hands over his life. He does not allow himself to be only the plaything of fate. At this point all violence from the outside becomes powerless. Love shows itself to be the strongest power, even if it cannot yet have its way visibly in everything. Out of the handing over of his own life there comes a power of love that cannot be broken.

Karl Cardinal Lehmann