Death—and our salvation
John’s version of the Passion, which we hear today, describes in great detail many of the circumstances leading up to the death of Jesus on the cross. We hear about Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, Pilate’s interrogation, the women at the cross and so much more.
We must not let these details distract us from the truth of today’s primary focus—a remembrance of the fact that Jesus died a violent death at the hands of the local authorities.
At a recent gathering at the University of Notre Dame, G. Marcus Cole, the dean of the Law School, put it this way:
Anyone who has spent any time in any Catholic school must realize that they’ve spent time face-to-face with the violence, brutality and innate inhumanity of the death penalty. It is clearly depicted on the wall of every Catholic classroom in every Catholic school—in the form of the crucifix on the wall. Our Lord Jesus Christ was a victim of the death penalty.
Unfortunately, the death penalty is not a thing of the past. In our country, this month alone, two men have already been executed and two more executions are scheduled.
The Catholic Liturgy for Good Friday invites us to pause and reverence that cross: the instrument of Jesus’ death—and of our salvation. I believe we are also invited to consider Good Friday as an opportunity to recommit to ending violence, and to pray for all victims of violence, especially the death penalty.
Eileen Reilly is a School Sister of Notre Dame, living in Bridgeport, CT. Currently she works with the Catholic Mobilizing Network which aims to “End the Death Penalty, Advance Justice, and Begin Healing.”