On
Good Friday we recall Jesus’ journey along the way of the cross: a journey
seemingly hopeless, yet one that changed human life and history, and opened the
way to “new heavens and a new earth” (cf. Rev 21:1). Christians all over the
world commemorates with deep spiritual union the death of the Son of God on the
cross; in his cross we see the tree of life, which blossoms in new hope.
The
experience of suffering and of the cross touches all mankind; it touches the
family too. How often does the journey become wearisome and difficult!
Misunderstandings, conflicts, worry for the future of our children, sickness
and problems of every kind. These days too, the situation of many families is
made worse by the threat of unemployment and other negative effects of the
economic crisis. The Way of the Cross invites all of us, and families in
particular, to contemplate Christ crucified in order to have the force to
overcome difficulties. The cross of Christ is the supreme sign of God’s love
for every man and woman, the superabundant response to every person’s need for
love. At times of trouble, when our families have to face pain and adversity,
let us look to Christ’s cross. There we can find the courage and strength to
press on; there we can repeat with firm hope the words of Saint Paul: “Who will
separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom 8:35, 37).
In
times of trial and tribulation, we are not alone; the family is not alone.
Jesus is present with his love, he sustains them by his grace and grants the
strength needed to carry on, to make sacrifices and to overcome every obstacle.
And it is to this love of Christ that we must turn when human turmoil and
difficulties threaten the unity of our lives and our families. The mystery of
Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection inspires us to go on in hope: times
of trouble and testing, when endured with Christ, with faith in him, already
contain the light of the resurrection, the new life of a world reborn, the
Passover of all those who believe in his word.
In
that crucified Man who is the Son of God, even death itself takes on new
meaning and purpose: it is redeemed and overcome, it becomes a passage to new
life. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a
single grain; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn 12:24).
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