Pastor's Message
Pastor’s Message for Good Friday, April 10th: No Greater Love
I have always found Good Friday to be one of the saddest days of the year. The story that unfolds in the passion of Christ is one of pain, suffering and death. It is a dark and foreboding time. In some ways, what we are living through with the covid-19 pandemic feels like a very long Good Friday. Social isolation and anxiety are with all of us today as we struggle with the fear of the unknown consequences of this deadly outbreak.
At the same time, I also feel that this is one of the most glorious days in our Church history. This is the pivotal day in the story of the redemption of mankind. By now we are all familiar with the story. God created us out of love to have a personal relationship with him but unfortunately through sin our relationship became broken and we became separated from Him. The only way that we could be reunited with Him is through the sacrifice of his Son. And it was on this day over 2000 years ago that Jesus offered his life on the cross and restored our relationship with God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world be saved through him.” (Jn 3:16-17)
If ever we doubt God’s love for us, we need only to remember Good Friday. God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die on the cross for us so that our sins would be forgiven. He took up the cross to shoulder the burden of our sin and suffering. As the gospel of John clearly states, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” (Jn 15:13)
During our current troubles, the way forward for us is to unite our cross to His cross. Each of us has a cross to bear and a burden to carry: a mental anxiety, a bodily infirmity, a spiritual frailty, or a painful loss. Whatever it may be, we need to behold Jesus on the cross to find inspiration to carry our own. I once heard a Priest say, “No cross, no crown, no pain, no gain, no gall, no glory!” Jesus, our redeemer, was with us on Good Friday, is with us today and promises to be with us forever.
God bless, Father Gerard
