Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
John 18:1- 19:92
Good Friday
“He Was Despised and Rejected by Men”

The words of the prophet Isaiah, “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3), open the Liturgy of the Word today. They speak of the suffering servant, whose rejection and pain are embodied in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Today, we contemplate Him as a representative of all who are despised, disinherited, and discarded by the world—those whom society turns away from, choosing not to see their pain.

From the moment of His birth, Jesus was no stranger to rejection. Born in a humble stable because “there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7), He grew up without privilege. His family’s offering at the temple, two turtledoves or pigeons (a sacrifice for the poor), was a symbol of their poverty. Even in His public ministry, He was homeless, with “nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20). His entire life was marked by this solidarity with the marginalised.

As we move to His passion, a moment often overlooked but filled with significance stands out: Jesus in the praetorium of Pilate, mocked and tortured. Soldiers pressed a crown of thorns onto His head, clothed Him in a bloody robe, and gave Him a reed as a symbol of mockery. In this, Jesus becomes the prototype of all who are humiliated, oppressed, and violated. Pilate’s exclamation, “Ecce homo!” (“Behold the man!”), reveals the great paradox of the cross: The one who is rejected and despised becomes the symbol of hope and redemption for all who are broken. Pilate was making an eternal statement: pointing towards the broken, humiliated and condemned man, he says, “This is the state of humanity.” But what Pilate did not know was that it was God himself present in the brokenness and humiliation of humanity.

Yet, while this is a significant dimension of the Passion, the most profound meaning lies beyond the social and human realms. The cross is not only a symbol of solidarity with the oppressed but also the spiritual gateway to redemption. Jesus’ death was not merely the death of a nobleman; it was the death that brought the world back from sin, conquering death and offering eternal life. The resurrection of Christ ensures that the final word in human history is not oppression but victory.

For those who have power and privilege, the cross serves as a warning. It reminds them that their strength is temporary, and they, too are subject to the same fate as all humankind. The illusion of omnipotence is dangerous, and it is a constant temptation for the powerful, as history has shown.

The Church, as the voice of the voiceless, must continue to stand with the poor and the oppressed, addressing the stark injustices that persist in our world today. The message of the cross is not only a call for solidarity but a plea for transformation, for the reversal of a world bound by power, greed, and indifference.

Isaiah’s prophecy concludes with the promise of the Servant’s exaltation: “He shall see the fruit of the travail of His soul and be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11). The resurrection of Christ gives this promise a name and a face. As we await this glorious moment, let us meditate on the mystery of the cross, knowing that in Christ, every tear will be wiped away and every injustice will be undone.

© Claretian Publications, Hong Kong, China
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025