ood Friday of the Passion of the Lord
He . . . opened not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)
It has been a long-standing tradition to observe a kind of sacred silence between the hours of noon and three o’clock on Good Friday—the hours when darkness fell over Jesus as he hung on the cross. We join the spectators who were there on Calvary in a silence of sadness at the sight of Jesus suffering so deeply. We also join the silence of the “many nations” and “kings” in the first reading who are “startled” and left “speechless” (Isaiah 52:15). Like them, we are shocked at the cruelty that was visited upon this innocent man.
For the spectators on Calvary and the dignitaries in the first reading, the silence is dramatic enough. But for us there is another layer to this silence. Ours is the silence of a people who see their own sins in the sufferings of Christ. In the cruelty of his tormentors, we see a reflection of the way we can sometimes treat each other—maybe not as extreme, but still with a passion that we know is wrong. Every lash of the whip chills us. Every desperate gasp for air pierces us. We are left wordless with sadness over our sins and awe at his mercy.
But there’s someone else who is keeping a sacred silence today. In the first reading, it’s the servant himself. Isaiah describes him as “a sheep before the shearers” who “opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). No words of protest, denunciation, or complaint. He was innocent, but he submitted to his tormentors with a humility that we can only begin to comprehend.
Like this tormented servant, Jesus also maintained a humble, prayerful silence throughout his passion. His entire life up to that point had been one long march toward Calvary. Everything he said or did led up to this act of pure and selfless love. He had said all he needed to say; all that was left now were the “seven last words” that still ring in our ears.
Today, try to enter into this sacred silence. Gaze at the crucifix, and see the love that brought Jesus there. Imagine his silent testimony as he stood before his accusers. Let his silence wash over you and fill you with wonder, gratitude, and love. Remember, Jesus did all this for you.
“Jesus, let your love reduce me to silence today.”
Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1–19:42
