Good Friday

See Commentary on John 18:1-19:42 in John 18:1-12, John 18:13-28, John 18:29-40, John 19:1-16, John 19:16-30, John 19:31-37, John 19:38-42

Homily 1 - 2009

So far as Jesus is concerned, there is only one way to live life to the full and to become truly,  wonderfully human - and that way is to love: to choose to love, to choose to love consistently without exceptions and without conditions. To choose to love that way in a world where others don't see things in that way at all leaves us vulnerable and sets us up to be exploited and possibly victimised. Jesus knew that - but he also knew that there is no other way - not other way, that is, to be fully human. 

Sadly, that is not what makes the world go round. Love, respect, justice, responsibility, non-violence, not just dabbled in but lived consistently, run counter to self-interest, common sense, national interest, national security. Caiaphas and Pilate were both smart enough to know that. They both had responsibilities to their constituents, after all,. Perhaps Judas also fitted in there somewhere. And while people were initially fascinated by Jesus, and attracted to him, with a few exceptions, they all  held back, perhaps a bit regretfully, lost interest, and got on with business as usual. 

Where are we at? Do we really believe  that Jesus was right? and that the only way to live life to the full is to choose to love - and try to love – consistently, everyone,always and without exception, and be ready to pay the price? The crucifixion is quite confronting -  and a bit frightening.  

Personally, I think that, to love recklessly like Jesus, is impossible – if we start from ourselves. But we don't have to start from ourselves. We have to let Jesus love us.  We start from him. We have to let him die - for us. And as we slowly learn to surrender to his love, it becomes interesting to watch the change that begins to unfold within us. Love – once accepted – is creative.