Jesus is the Good Guy (Good Friday 2025)

Jesus is the Good Guy (Good Friday 2025)
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 (Luke 23:46)
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1-19:42
April 18, 2025

Who are you like in the story of Jesus’ Passion?

Are you like Jesus who is honest and forth coming?  He knew He was about to be betrayed but He did not hide.  He went to a garden where Judas knew Jesus often went.

Or are you like Judas who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver?  Do you value money as more important than following Jesus?  Do you seek worldly ways more than Jesus as the way and the truth and the life?

Are you like Jesus who did not wait for Judas, his betrayer, and the band of soldiers, to come to him?  He went to them because He knew that the Passion He was about to suffer was his Father’s Will.  He is always obedient to our Father.  Are you obedient to God our Father?

Or are you like Judas and the soldiers who failed to see Jesus as the Messiah and claimed Jesus was blaspheming God when He claimed to be the Son of God?

Are you like Jesus who freely submitted himself to trial even when He knew He was innocent?  Are you like Jesus who told Judas and the others to “let these men go” to protect them even as He suffered himself?

Or are like Peter, “who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear”?  Peter meant well but He was following his own plan, not our Father’s plan.  Do you make your own plan or do you submit yourself to our Father’s Plan?

Are you like Jesus who faced his Passion with courage?

Or are like the disciples who fled? 

Or are you like Peter who followed to see what happened to Jesus but denied knowing Jesus three times?  Do you let others know you are Catholic or do you keep it a secret?

Are you like Jesus who stood by what He had said “publicly to the world” and what He taught in the synagogues when the high priest questioned him or will you change your story to have your live spared?

Are you like Jesus who testified to the truth?

Or are you like those who bring Jesus to Pilate to be crucified without having any real charge against him?  Are you willing to testify falsely to get your way?

Pilate found no guilt in Jesus.  Do you know that Jesus is innocent?  Do you understand why an innocent man had to die?

Are you like Jesus who sought God’s Will over worldly ways or you like the Jews who claimed to follow Caesar as their king just to keep peace?

Are you like Jesus who thirsted for the Father’s love?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff