The events of Good Friday changed humankind and the course of the world forever. It is the only day in the entire year that the Catholic Church does not celebrate Mass. It is a day like no other and it is remembered and celebrated like no other.
On this day, the water fonts are dry. On this day, the altar has been stripped, the sanctuary is barren. The only "environment" is a red cloth that has been draped around the Crucifix. The service begins with the priest laying prostrate before the altar, which is at the foot of the cross. The Passion from the Gospel of John is read. Then one by one each person comes forward to venerate the cross. This is the most moving part of the service for me. People of all ages, from so many different walks of life, genuflecting before the wood of the cross and reverencing it with a kiss. It is more powerful than words can explain. As a community we then pray intercessions - for our Church leaders, for our world leaders, for the unity of all Christians, for the Jews, for those who do not believe in God, for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ. We then receive the Eucharist, which has been consecrated the night before at our Holy Thursday Mass. The service has ended and we leave in silence.
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is unfathomable. For God's Son - the second person of the Trinity, to humble himself to come to this earth as a baby, to be born in a cave, to learn the skills of a carpenter, to proclaim the Kingdom to sinners, to be condemned for crimes he didn't commit and then to die the most horrific death. His love is so great and I am so unworthy.
This is the Man who is talked about every day in our home. This is the Man whom Monkey Toes and I love. It is for this Man that we are trying to nurture that same love within our children. This is the Man who has changed my life. This is the Man who is the light in the darkest of days, the most trying of times. This is the Man who offers hope to the hopeless, mercy and grace to the sinful, sight to the blind. This is the Man whom everyday I choose to live my life.
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