Homily for the Service of the Lord's Passion

Homily for the Service of the Lord’s Passion
(Good Friday)
25 March 2016

       Silence: It is needed. It is desired. It is highly anticipated.

There is a great and profound solemnity realized in the silence of death. It’s not eerie; it’s not disturbing. It is present, though, with a sense of anticipation.

        

      Like the Early Church, there is an anticipation of waiting to see what God will do next. Though veiled in the silence, veiled in the grief, the mercy of God helps us to see, to anticipate what the next move of God will be.

        Traditionally, today would be the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Here, in the silence of her world, Mary submits herself to the silent anticipation of the will of the Father. This year, however, our celebration of Good Friday supersedes that great celebration. Yet we encounter Mary, once again, submitting herself to the silent anticipation of the will of the Father.

        In the moment of that silence, she doesn’t completely understand.

        Two thousand years later, in the midst of that same silence, we still do not completely understand.

        But we ponder in awe and in anticipation – and in silence - of what God might do next.

        The silence of this day is not eerie; it is not disturbing. It is needed; it is desired. To sit and ponder in the solemnity and solace of the silence of the world this day prepares our hearts to anticipate how God will use the Suffering, Passion and Death of Christ for the salvation of the world. To sit and ponder the solemnity and solace of the silence of this day allows us to enter into the Paschal Mystery.

        It is in that solemnity, it is in that solace, it is in that desire, it is in that anticipation, then, that we can open ourselves to the will of the Father as we say, “We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.”