GOOD FRIDAY

          It was sometime around 1977 or 78. The place was Chicago, Illinois. Peter was involved in a head on collision, and the prognosis was that he would not make it through the night. He was in a coma and kept on life support. However he did make it through the night, but even his optimistic parents knew that he would be a “vegetable” for as long as he lived. He and Linda had planned to get married the next year. This put an end to those plans. Each evening, Linda would come to see him after work, hold his hand and talk to him for hours. She would tell him about the weather, the sports, the world political crisis, but there was no sign of having heard or understood anything. But Linda would not give up. After two months, Peter could breathe on his own but there was no other response. He did not hear anything, he dis not speak, he did not open his eyes. He still had to be fed intravenously. Linda would often talk about his famous football team, Notre Dame. She told him they were going to trade the star Quarterback. For the first time she noticed a trembling as she held his hand. There was some movement. As the week, went on, and she continued to talk about the football team. First there was agitation, and then pressure on her palm and finally a strong grip of her hand.

          Linda, gave up her job and against the doctors advice, took Peter home. She fed him, she talked to him, she read him stories, she prayed with him. After two long years, Peter had recovered the use of most of his senses. He still had to walk with the help of parallel bars. He had to learn to talk and write like a little child. Finally, Peter asked Linda’s father whether he would give permission to marry his daughter. Linda’s Father replied, “If you can walk down that aisle on your own, you will have my full hearted support.” When they walked down the aisle a few years later, every TV station in Chicago and all the newspapers covered the story. The headline in the paper read, “Love has brought the dead to life.”

          What the headlines did not do was to give credit to the original story which happened nearly 2000 years ago and which we have gathered to celebrate in this Church today. Jesus was and is the first person who died that all may have life. It is the courage, the love and the example of Christ that is the model for Linda and for all of us - as we live and help others to come alive.

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And so we hear of Linda bringing back to life somebody who was dead, through her love. Today, we celebrate the gift of life to all of us gathered in this beautiful church through the death of one person, Jesus Christ  who loved us so much.

In both cases the sacrifice is tremendous. It is hours of sitting down and waiting on the part of Linda, it was excruciating pain on the cross for Jesus. We have seen the crucifix so often, that we can get used to the image - we might forget the agony endured by Jesus out of love for each one of us. Then again, we cannot afford to only concentrate on the pain - that we forget that the crucifixion is still going on today in our midst. For the last four Sundays we have had this picture of the cross in our presence leading up to this big celebration today:

3      On the third Sunday of Lent, it was the Cross of lack of understanding, perhaps even the Cross of Intolerance.  We had the story of Jesus giving sight to the Blind Man. Right in our midst, we have had people, suffering due to economic, emotional, physical problems. Like the Blind Man who cried out, Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me. They too have been calling out to us, who were baptised in the name of Jesus, they have been calling out to us Christians, “Fellow Christians have mercy on me.”

  they are those on welfare,

 they are single parents trying to give their children a decent living and yet bring them up in good Christian traditions.

 they are catholics who for whatever reason only come to Church around Easter and Christmas and ask to be treated with love and compassion and acceptance.

 they are teenagers who are blamed for everything going wrong in Society - who love their faith and Christ like anyone else..

Every time, we are blind to Christ in these our brothers and sisters, we look at the Cross as a cosmetic sign or a piece of jewellery and fail to see that same Cross as the means of our salvation. The same cross that we will come and venerate later on in this service.

4      On the fourth Sunday, it was the Cross of Hunger and Thirst.  Jesus asks the Samaritan Woman for a drink of water - and rewards her with water that will quench her thirst forever. Here was a woman wanting more in life. But she did not know what could or what would satisfy her thirst. She had tried sex - and many of us have done the same.  That alleviated her passion for a life, but did not touch the raw need of her heart. So often in our lives, we roam around aimlessly. We are searching for something that will satisfy our hearts like the Samaritan woman.  Some will try sex, others alcohol, others drugs. But none of these will actually satisfy us.   As St. Augustine says so beautifully, “Our hearts were meant for you O God, and they will be restless until they rest in you.” And so now on the Cross, Jesus fulfills the prophecy he made in Jn.12 :32 “When I am lifted up, I will draw every one to myself.” or again, in John ch: 7 vs.37 “Whoever is thirsty should come to me and drink.  Who ever believes in me, streams of life-giving water will pour from his heart.” Today, as we celebrate Good Friday and we come to venerate the Cross, I would like to extend to you the invitation of Jesus, come and drink of the Living waters and go home refreshed.

5      Finally, on the fifth Sunday of Lent. It is the Cross of Death due to hatred. We had the magnificent story of Lazarus brought back to life. As we celebrate this Good Friday, let us pray for those who feel lifeless, for those who feel dead. So many of us are prisoners of resentment. So many of us move around like zombies because of an anger, a hatred, an inability to forgive those who have hurt us in life. When Jesus told Martha and her friends to remove the stone from Lazarus’ tomb, Martha replied, “But Lord he has been buried four days, and there is a stench.” Jn 11:39 Hatred and sin sure cause a stench - for some of us we have been carrying this burden of a lack of forgiveness for years. The smell is all around us, but we have got used to it. All those around us can see it - they see so many of us old before our time, people who used to smile now walk around without joy or happiness or the life that Jesus came to give us by dying on the Cross.

6      My dear friends, for weeks now you have been giving up what ? Cigarettes and alcohol, candy and sweets, movies and other forms of entertainment - all beautiful works to show our oneness with Christ Crucified. Now is the time to show the life of Jesus, the life that Jesus won for us on this Cross.

 as blind people let us pray that we can look into the eyes of those hurting around us - and for an openness of heart to reach out to them.

 as thirsty and hungry people let us reach out to those condemned by the world, so that we might merit the blessings of Jesus, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right.” Matt 5 : 9

 as people who are dead, let us come back to life like the Easter Lilies and Daffodils and Tulips - that bring such beauty around our church - may it also bring that beauty to those who worship within it today. In our TV Masses to the shut ins every Sunday, we encourage those that if they are not at peace with anyone - that they will take steps if possible to be reconciled with these people. Perhaps we can take that advice ourselves today.

7      My friends let us celebrate today, because - if we can SEE like the blind man whose sight was restored, if we are satisfied with Everlasting Water like the Samaritan Woman, if we are brought to life like Lazarus - then today we do not mourn a Christ who died, but we celebrate a Life that is offered to us...in and through Jesus Christ. May he bless each one of you and your families.