Good Friday
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In Jerusalem stands what is, for us, the most famous church in the world, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built by Constantine in the fourth century. The Church stands above the place of Golgotha, the hill where Christ was crucified. Within it is a small chapel called the Aedicule, which contains the remains of the cave where, as far as we can tell, Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. It is a sacred site, and each year pilgrims stream constantly to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, especially during the days of the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
These celebrations are led by the Patriarch in Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who has presided over the Triduum liturgies for several years. This year, however, the celebrations are very different. They are taking place almost in silence. There are no pilgrims and no faithful permitted to attend in person. The liturgies unfold with only a few priests present. We are witnessing a dramatic juxtaposition. On the one hand, the Church celebrates the love, service, and peace of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, these celebrations take place in a region marked by war, with violence affecting Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond.
This contrast highlights two ways of living. In the early Church, one of the earliest names for Christians was “the Way.” Before the term “Christianity” was widely used, discipleship was understood as following a particular way of life. The Acts of the Apostles reflects this. The early Christians recognized that there are fundamentally different paths we can choose.
One path is the way of violence, oppression, warfare, and greed. This way is well summarized in a line from the Greek historian Thucydides, written about five hundred years before Christ: “The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must.” This way continues to appear in our world. It is tempting to respond to violence with violence, to injustice with retaliation, to seek more at the expense of others. Yet this path solves nothing. From the story of Cain and Abel onward, Scripture shows how this way leads only to cycles of destruction and suffering.
Jesus offers a different way. In the Passion account from the Gospel of John, we see this clearly. Jesus is in a context of oppression and injustice, yet he does not respond with violence. He responds with peace, self-giving, and love. John presents the Passion not simply as suffering, but as glory. This section of the Gospel is often called the Book of Glory.
John’s account emphasizes that Jesus remains in control. When the soldiers come to arrest him, there is no kiss of betrayal as in the Synoptic Gospels. Instead, Jesus steps forward and asks, “Whom are you looking for?” He freely gives himself over. On the cross, he does not cry out in despair. He speaks with authority, entrusting his mother and completing his mission. He chooses the moment when his work is finished. John wants us to see that this is not defeat, but victory. Christ overcomes violence not by greater force, but through love and self-sacrifice.
This is the way we are called to follow. It is a way of forgiveness, charity, justice, and peace. Throughout history, Christians have embraced this path. Saint Francis of Assisi, during the time of the Crusades, chose not to fight but to seek dialogue. He crossed into enemy territory and met with the Sultan. Although peace was not achieved, they parted with mutual respect.
Centuries later, Pope Francis demonstrated this same spirit. During the conflict in South Sudan, he invited leaders of opposing factions to Rome. In a remarkable gesture, he knelt and kissed their feet, pleading with them to seek peace. This is the way of Christ.
Each of us faces this choice. We may be tempted toward the way described by Thucydides, but we are invited again and again to choose the way of Christ. As we come forward to venerate the cross, we not only express our love for Jesus but recommit ourselves to this path. It is a path that may not appear powerful in the eyes of the world, but it is the way that leads to true victory, peace, and life.
Let us pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit to recognize what Christ has done for us and to follow the way he has shown us, the way of love, peace, and life.