Homily for Good Friday 2009

The students of St John's presented a moving and beautiful account of Jesus passion and death yesterday (Holy Thursday). It was not overdone or over dramatised. It challenged the students and teachers to consider betrayal and suffering in our world in light of the Jesus' betrayal and suffering. Their portrayal of the story was done with love. Just as all that Jesus did was done out of love for the Father who sent him and for us to whom he was sent.

The passion and death of Jesus takes us to the very heart of the Gospel. Few other stories have generated so much art and poetry, writing and reflections as this. It is the core around which the four Gospels were written. It asks the age old questions humanity has struggled with from generation to generation. Why is there suffering and evil? Why does God allow it? What is the point of the struggle?

It tells of God's love for the world. That is an unacceptable scandal for many. That God could be so personal. That God could be such in this infinite universe. That God would bother with this speck of dust amongst the stars. Many would be happy if God were some unnamed force in the universe. That would keep God at an acceptable distance and make no demands of us. Such a God appeals to the rational mind. A crucified Christ is a stumbling block.

Not only is God so personal but, as the letter to the Hebrews tells us, we have a high priest "who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin." God has taken on our human nature in Jesus and made himself subject to all the problems that life throws at us. It is on that basis that the Christian can have such confidence and hope.

We do not lose heart even when the economy seems to crumble, even when unemployment looms, even when sickness and death hover around us. Because Jesus' prayer has been heard even when we think ours are not.

Today we venerate the cross. We venerate the wood on which Jesus died. The Roman instrument of execution has been turned back on itself and has become an instrument of life. For on this tree the Saviour of the world died for our sake. This story tells of God's faithful presence for us in all our struggles and questions. It is the story that is the cornerstone that shapes and directs our lives. It is the story we have made our own through baptism. We pray that we may in turn offer that faithful presence to those who suffer.

Fr Graham