REFLECTIONS TODAY

Today is Good Friday. We worship the Lord Jesus as he lays down his life for us. Moreover, we worship the Lord by living up to the challenge of accomplishing the mission he handed on to us. Jesus’ earthly mission is over, but God’s work of salvation continues through the new family he has formed. The Greek expression paredōken to pneuma, which means “he handed over the Spirit,” tells of Jesus’ mission being handed on to the community of disciples at the foot of the cross.
Jesus’ mission now goes on through the members of the new family he has raised. The laying down of Jesus’ life generates God’s family. As we are members of God’s family, Jesus’ mission is now our mission. The Spirit he has handed over to us now empowers us to fulfill our mission in the world today. How do we worship the Lord Jesus who has laid down his life for us?
Have we ever realized that the true worship of the Lord Jesus includes our participation in the mission he has begun? How true are we to our being members of God’s family?
Gospel • John 18:1—19:42
(…) Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit (…)
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.