Good Friday 2020

Join the Jesuit Institute South Africa as they celebrate the Lord's Passion, this Good Friday. This afternoon's service is celebrated by Fr Anthony Egan SJ. Owing to COVID-19 and the suspensions of Mass in various parts of the country, we invite everyone to make a 'Spiritual Communion' with us during this Mass. More resources are available at https://www.jesuitinstitute.org.za/co... You might want to light a candle, or do something to make this a prayerful time for you all. Our readings for this Mass are: First Reading Isaiah 52:13–53:12 Response Luke 23:46 Psalm Psalm 31:2, 6, 12–13, 15–17, 25 Second Reading Hebrews 4:14–16, 5:7–9 Gospel Acclamation Philippians 2:8–9 Gospel John 18:1–19:42 Homily for the Mass of the Lord's Passion (beginning 23:12) 10 April 2020 Fr Anthony Egan SJ So what's good about Good Friday? If you look at it, Good Friday recounts what many would call a political murder. Not quite an assassination, because there seems to have been some kind of legal process, however tenuous it might have been. So what's good about Good Friday? For centuries this story that we read as part of our faith, has been turned by some into an excuse for anti-Semitism, for the persecution of Jews. What's good about Good Friday? Particularly, when we live in a time where we're all on lockdown, where people are sick, where thousands have died, what's good about Good Friday? I've asked these questions for a long time. The way I deal with these questions is research and study. How do I do that? I look at what might have been. I look at the best available historical evidence to understand what's happening in this gospel. Because, on a very simple reading, it doesn't add up! You can download this homily at https://www.jesuitinstitute.org.za/wp...