But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
The cross is at the center. As i look at the large crucifix, I remember how it came to us. Four years ago a Franciscan priest, Father Pancratius, whom I met in Freiburg whole he was dying of cancer, said to me, "Henri, I want to give you this crucifix before I die. I want you to give it a place among your people with disabilities."
He told me the story of the crucifix. When many years ago he went to Croatia with a group of young Germans to help restore a church that was destroyed during World Word II, they found the crucifix under the rubble. The pastor, grateful for the German gesture of reconciliation, gave it to Father Pancratius. There were no crossbeams, just the wood carved body...
Good Friday is much more than reliving the passion of Jesus; it is entering into solidarity with the passion of all people of our plant, whether in the past, present, or the future. In Jesus all human suffering is collected. The broken heart of Jesus is the broken heart of God. The broken heart of God is the broken heart of the world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this day of sorrow, I will unite my sufferings with yours. I will set aside ten mins to reflect on the meaning of your death for me.....and give thanks for the freeing power that has come into my life because of your sacrifice.
From the works of Henri Nouwen
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