HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY

On this most holy night, we celebrate the suffering endured by

Our Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation; commemorating the spittle, the slaps, the scourging, the insults, the mockery, the purple robe, the reed, the sponge, the vinegar, the nails, the lance, and, above all, the cross and death-all of which He willingly endured for us.

We also remember the profession of faith made by the good thief who was crucified right next to Him and found salvation on that tree. This good thief opened the doors of Paradise that were locked against him and stole heaven by using the key, “Jesus remember me!”

By the infinite love with which You embrace us, Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen.

On God Friday our altar is completely bare.

The priest and deacons, vested in red, process to the altar and prostrate. This prostration is a sign of submission and powerlessness before the God who made us. He is in control; he is God and we are not.

We hear the reading from the Old Testament prophesying of the coming Suffering Servant. He bore infirmities and our sufferings. He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the punishment that makes us whole, by the stripes of the whip we were healed.

We hear in the Letter to the Hebrews that we have a high priest who offers himself, not animal sacrifices to his Father for us. Jesus knew in his own flesh human weaknesses and he can sympathize with ours, yet he never sinned. Our Lord learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was raised, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Finally, we once again hear the Passion of the Lord, this time according to St. John. St. John gives us many details and we can learn many things about our God through his Gospel.

We pray for the needs of the Church and the world in the long, ancient prayers of kneeling. This year the Church has added a special intention for those suffering from the Corona virus and all who care for them. The whole Church throughout the world will be praying for God’s help and protection in these times.

We are presented with the cross; “…on which was hung our salvation…” In normal times we come to kiss the cross. The cross we venerate is the one that we pray before throughout the year which hangs above our altar. Tonight, we hold it in church for all to see and meditate on. We cannot kiss it but we can give thanks to the Lord we love for the great love he has shown us. I will kiss the cross for all of you.

In other times we would receive the Lord’s Body, the same one crucified for us, the same one given as food for the life of the world. This year we have to long for the day when we can receive him again in Holy Communion.

A Suggestion:

Take the cross you have in your home, hold it in your hand, pass it to family members, kneel and pray this prayer.

“Look upon me, good and gentle Jesus
while before Your face I humbly kneel and,
with burning soul,
pray and beseech You
to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments
of faith, hope, and charity;
true contrition for my sins,
and a firm purpose of amend my life.

While I contemplate,
with great love and tender pity,
Your five most precious wounds,
pondering over them within me
and calling to mind the words which David,
Your prophet, said to You, my Jesus:
“They have pierced My hands and My feet,
they have numbered all My bones.”

Amen.

We bow before Your cross O Lord,
We praise and glorify your holy resurrection.
For by Your cross and resurrection joy has
come into the whole world!”’

As the priest and deacons of the parish pray for you please remember to pray for us that our own unworthiness may never cause anyone to fall or suffer.

Fondly,
Fr. Phil