Reflection for Good Friday

Today's Mass Readings

Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth; like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before shearers, he did not open his mouth. (Is. 53:7)

Centuries before Jesus came to his cross, the prophet, Isaiah, saw him, as we are told in the first reading for the Liturgy of Good Friday: “Like a lamb led to slaughter.” As we are confronted daily by news from around the world about the ravages of the coronavirus, our faith does well to reflect on another view of this Lamb, seen by another prophet of sorts, the Apostle John, in his vision (Rev. 5):

I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.” Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the [seven] spirits of God sent out into the whole world.

We are reminded by scholars that this is the main title for Christ in the Book of Revelation, used twenty-eight times. And of course, we hear it in every Mass: “Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world…”

This beautiful image is one we do well to contemplate for our lives. The meek Lamb, going to slaughter, stands in such contrast with all those images of strength and power with which we are made familiar in a culture that puts such emphasis upon achievement.

And yet, this Lamb stands victorious before us, even in his being slaughtered: “if I am lifted up (on the cross), I will draw all things to myself.”

It is this victory – a victory over self-salvation in contrast to Christ’s self-giving into the hands of his Father – that saves us! We do well to contemplate this Lamb as we confront our fears, our doubts, our anxieties in these days.

This contemplation of the Lamb can take us deeper into ourselves where we answer the question of why we are on this earth after all, where we are headed, what is the meaning of it all. The Lamb is leading us to an eternal joy.

Is that worth our patient, trusting endurance?

Reflection by Fr. Xavier Nacke, OSB