Good Friday- Isaiah 53, John 19

 Good Friday always seems like a time to read, hear, and meditate upon the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and to pray quietly and deeply. Let us briefly emphasize two of today's readings. Isaiah 53 is one of several passages which speaks of the Suffering Servant of God. This Messianic figure bears horrible sufferings innocently for the redemption of God's people. In the end, He also overcomes suffering and is honored by the Lord God. Jesus Himself alludes to such prophecies and applies them to Himself and  His work (Luke 24:26-27). Later, the Apostles (I Peter 2:22-25), Evangelists (Matthew 27: 12,29; John 12:38), and Christians down through the centuries have seen these prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

We see Isaiah's prophecy made personal and concrete in the Passion account from John 19. Jesus is holy and innocent. He deserves all honor, respect, and love. Yet, He humbly and quietly accepts rejection, insults, physical abuse, torture, and an excruciating and slow death to deliver people from sin, death, and the devil. He suffers for our transgressions. He lays down His life for His sheep. Jesus restores balance to a fallen creation. He overcomes the imbalance and disorder caused by sin. He does something that we humans could never do for ourselves. He atones for our sin; He graciously reconciles sinners with divine righteousness. Only through Christ's suffering and His perfect offering on the cross does divine goodness decidedly triumph. Because of His redeeming work, it is "Good Friday" after all. Thanks be to God!

First Sunday after Christmas- Matthew 1:18-25- St. Joseph

 The Gospel for the Sunday after Christmas is Matthew 1:18-25. This Scripture highlights the often neglected role of St. Joseph in the Incarnation. Of course, Jesus Himself is the focus and the Virgin Mary is the highly favored one. Yet, Joseph must not be forgotten. He is a great example of a godly and honorable man. 

In his initial response to the unique pregnancy of Mary, Joseph is a merciful traditionalist. He wants to follow the rules as kindly as possible. But Joseph is also open to change for a good purpose. He hears and heeds the divine call, and in response to God's message, he accepts his vocation with courage and commitment. He is supportive of Mary. He cares for the blessed spouse and for the holy child entrusted to his care.  After the visit of the Wise Men, he leads Mary and Jesus into exile for safety from Herod's cruel slaughter of the Innocents, and later he returns the family to a settled life in Nazareth. Joseph is involved in the religious life of the holy family, as shown in the pilgrimage at Passover when Jesus was twelve. Joseph probably also oversaw young Jesus' basic education in the Scriptures and seems to have passed on his practical carpentry or cabinet-making skills.

In these and many unknown ways, Joseph fulfilled his sacred vocation as a human father. For all those who are human fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or mentors, Joseph is a great example of true manliness. For all Christians, he is an example of love, religious duty, and self-sacrifice. May his example encourage us all in our devotion to and service to Christ!

Good Friday- Isaiah 53:6

How can this day be called Good Friday? Crucifixion in itself was one of the more cruel and shameful forms of execution ever devised. Furthermore, Jesus of Nazareth was the holiest man and the pure Son of God falsely accused and plotted against by evil. Yet, it is a good day because it shows the love of God reaching out to fallen and corrupt human beings. The Crucified One is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins, and the apparent defeat of goodness on this day will be turned into an eternal cosmic victory over sin, death, and the devil.

In the words of Isaiah 53:6, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Lent V, commonly called Passion Sunday- John 6, Hebrews 9

Some newer liturgical calendars call the Sunday before Easter (popularly called Palm Sunday) Passion Sunday because the Passion Gospel is read. However, some other calendars (including the 1927/28 Proposed English, the 1928 American, the 1962 Canadian, and the 2019 ACNA Books of Common Prayer) use the older popular designation of the Fifth Sunday in Lent as "Passion Sunday."

The readings in the 1928 BCP are consistent with the Passion Sunday designation. The Gospel from John 6 points to the theological conflicts that led to plots against Jesus. The Epistle from Hebrews 9:11-15 turns our thoughts to the significance of Christ's passion and death. Hebrews 9:11 speaks of Christ as "high priest of good things to come." Hebrews 9:12 adds, "... by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Comparing the self-sacrifice of Christ to the old temple sacrifices, Hebrews 9:14 exclaims, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God"! Hebrew 9:15 concludes that Christ brings "the promise of eternal inheritance."

On Palm Sunday and during Holy Week, we will spend a lot of time focusing on the details of our Lord's Passion and Death. On the Fifth Sunday in Lent, Passion Sunday, let us take time for some preliminary and personal reflections about why He suffered and what His sacrifice means for us.