April 3, 2026
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Gospel: John 18:1–19:42

Today is Good Friday, when the Church commemorates the Lord’s Passion. The narrative from St. John’s Gospel presents a panoramic view of Jesus’ passion. I would like to offer some reflections.

Our Lord, God, Jesus Christ, on the night of His arrest, revealed to the officers who came to seize Him, and to all present—His disciples and the crowd—that He is the Christ they seek (cf. Jn 18:1-11). This sets an example for each of us baptized into Christ, cleansed of original sin in the waters of His side. Due to human weakness, we sometimes fear to profess our faith publicly, as Simon Peter did (cf. Jn 18:15-27). Outwardly, we may appear devout, but when called to testify to what we believe, we shrink back, fearing the world might treat us as the chief priests and Pharisees who arrested Jesus, seeking to deprive us of what is ours. In truth, by Baptism, we are reborn in Christ, beginning a new life in Him. Thus, the things of this world do not hinder our path to holiness.

Our Lord, God, Jesus Christ, even in the face of an unjust trial, boldly testified to the truth, that the world might know the reality of the Kingdom through His witness (cf. Jn 18:28-40). When we suffer injustice, especially for our faith—like Christ, mocked by others (cf. Jn 19:1-7)—we must imitate Him, testifying to the truth so that others may see in us the wondrous work of God. As Jesus said to Pilate, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. Therefore, the one who handed me over to you bears a greater sin” (Jn 19:11). This means that if we fail to use God’s graces as He wills, to do His holy will in all things, we will face the judgment written in Scripture when we stand before God, and our end will be perdition.

Our Lord, God, Jesus Christ, with steadfastness, gave a sublime testimony to the Gospel. Rejected by His own people, He still trusted in the One who sent Him (cf. Jn 19:12-15). The One who sent Him is the Father, Creator and Ruler of all, who gave His Son as a ransom for all our sins to free us from sin and death. As He carried the Cross to Golgotha, tradition teaches He fell many times, yet He pressed on courageously to His death, that by His death, we might gain eternal life.

Our Lord, God, Jesus Christ, in His infinite love, gave Himself completely to us, nourishing us richly in the Eucharistic sacrifice, where we receive His Body and Blood. Nailed to the Cross, He was stripped of all, His clothes divided by the soldiers (cf. Jn 19:23-25), teaching us that the things of this world cannot give us eternal life. When we face death, as Jesus did, worldly goods will not prolong our lives. St. Paul bore witness: “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (cf. Rom 8:5-6). Thus, if we follow the desires of the flesh, we end in death; if we desire what the Holy Spirit desires, we end in eternal life.
Our Lord, God, Jesus Christ, in His infinite love, gave us His Mother as our Mediatrix. From the Cross, He said to His mother standing below, “Woman, behold, your son,” and to the disciple, “Behold, your mother” (cf. Jn 19:25-27). What a great gift! We, who deserved no mercy for our sins, for which He suffered the Cross, received His Mother, that through her intercession, we might obtain abundant graces.

Our Lord, God, Jesus Christ, nailed to the Cross, said, “I thirst,” to fulfill all that was written of Him. After tasting the vinegar, He said, “It is finished,” and bowed His head, giving up His spirit (cf. Jn 19:28-30). Thus, He conquered death, and by His death, He won victory over death for us, that we might be freed from the death brought by sin through the blood and water flowing from His side (cf. Jn 19:31-35), and reborn in Him by water and the Holy Spirit.

O God, who by the Passion of Christ your Son, our Lord, abolished the death inherited from ancient sin by every succeeding generation, grant that just as, being conformed to him, we have borne by the law of nature the image of the man of earth, so by the sanctification of grace we may bear the image of the Man of heaven.Through Christ our Lord.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica