April 2, Good Friday

Good Friday

Having the Courage to Look Upon the Crucified

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

“They shall look upon him whom they have pierced.” These words of the prophet Zechariah quoted by St. John are fulfilled in the passion and death of Our Lord. Today with the Church Universal, we gather to do precisely that—to look upon the Lord Crucified whose sacred body was pierced by thorns, nails, and lance.

It is not easy to look upon the Crucified. A crucifixion was so gruesome, that the evangelists preferred to forego a detailed description. St. Mark does not even tell us that anyone close to Jesus was there on Calvary. Saints Matthew and Luke note that the women and a few others who followed Jesus were present but “looking on from a distance.” It seems safer, somehow easier that way. St. John however tells us that he was there with our Blessed Mother, with Mary of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.

Today we are invited to join them, to draw closer and to look upon Jesus Crucified. The words on an old hymn come to mind: “O come and mourn with me a-while; see Mary calls us to her side; O come and let us mourn with her; Jesus, our love, is crucified.” How easy it is to move toward Mary, the Mother of Jesus for she always provides a consoling and healing presence for her sons and daughters. How often go to her with our bruises, our cuts, and our inner hurts, knowing that she understands and that she cares.

We are so often inspired by her indomitable trust in God—a trust that allows her to stand at the foot of the cross. She assures us that God never abandons us. She assures us that God is faithful to his promises. We finally rally our courage to look up to the Lord and we are immediately struck by his extreme agony on our behalf. The words of St. Alphonsus come to minds: “My most beloved Jesus, thy face was beautiful before, but in this journey, it has lost all its beauty, and wounds and blood have disfigured it.” [Via Crucis]


We live in an age that seeks instant relief from suffering and so it takes a special effort for us to stand on Calvary. But standing there teaches us something very profound. What ultimately counts is that we say yes to what God requires of us, no matter how costly it may be.
Uniting our sufferings with those of Jesus, we receive strength and courage, a new lease on life, and undaunted hope for the future. We have our weaknesses and anxieties. Sin is a part of our life. What is important is that we allow our weaknesses to become our strength. For when we acknowledge our weaknesses, we are more inclined to turn to Jesus, to give ourselves over to him so that he can work in and through us.

Today let us at the foot of the Cross renew our love for the Lord and entrust our entire life to him, holding nothing back from him. Today, let us make our own the prayer that Pope St. Paul VI offered this prayer at the tomb of Jesus on his visit to Jerusalem:

We are here, O Lord Jesus.
We have come as the guilty who return to the scene of their crime.
We have come as one who has followed you,
but has also betrayed you,
many times, faithful and many times unfaithful.
We have come to acknowledge the mysterious relationship between our sins and your passion, our work, and your work.
We have come to strike our breasts,
to ask your forgiveness, to implore your mercy.
We have come because we know that you can,
that you want to forgive us,
because by your death you have atoned for us.
You who are our redemption and our hope.
Amen.