Friday, April 18(5), 2025
Holy (Good) Friday
Jn. 13:31-18:1 (and other readings)

The Crucifixion of the Lord and the Feast of Archangel Gabriel [in the year 1882]: another soothing coincidence.  Archangel Gabriel foretells the birth of St. John the Baptist and announces the Incarnation of the Lord to the Blessed Virgin; probably it was also he who proclaimed to the shepherds the joy of the birth of the Savior, as well as His resurrection to the women.  Thus, Gabriel is the herald of every joy and consolation.

 At the same time, the Cross of Christ is the great solace of every sinner.  A sinner, aware of his own sinfulness and of God’s impartial justice, has no other shelter but the shadow of the Cross.  Here he will see with absolute clarity that he himself is powerless: he cannot get rid of the burden of his sins while he is alone, even if he tries to repent ─ but the death of the Lord on the Cross offers him the only possible salvation.

The record of all our sins is destroyed on the Cross by the sacrifice of God’s love: everyone who receives and returns His love with full faith, partakes of this Mystery of Forgiveness.  As our faith and love grow stronger, so much stronger is our hope for Lord’s eternal forgiveness, and so much stronger is our joy because of that.

The Cross is the fountain of consolation, because we sinners drink from it the joy of forgiveness by faith and love.  Thus, the Cross can be likened to the Archangel, the herald of joy.

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