2022 Good Friday

The one thing in your life you would want to wish away, today is declared good.

In his Good Friday homily, Father Jegar deeply contemplates the profound significance of the hours Jesus spent on the cross, connecting this time with personal and communal reflections on suffering and redemption. He shares an evocative recount of walking the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, blending the historical path of Jesus with the bustling indifference of the modern city. This stark contrast underscores the enduring disconnect between the sacred events of Christ's passion and the everyday distractions of contemporary life, suggesting that, like the ancient onlookers, many today remain unaware or unaffected by the depths of Christ’s sacrifice.

Father Jegar uses this reflection to delve into the universal struggle with personal and collective suffering. He challenges the congregation to consider their own burdens and crosses, invoking the paradoxical term "Good Friday" to frame these struggles within the context of Christ's transformative suffering. The homily suggests that what is often perceived as personal affliction can, through faith, be seen as part of a larger, redemptive narrative.

The homily also serves as a meditation on the nature of memory and identity, contrasting his own poor memory with his sister's vivid recall, to illustrate how personal history shapes individual identity. This connection between memory and identity extends to a communal and spiritual memory that is enacted through the liturgical celebration of Good Friday, where remembering Christ's passion forms the basis of Christian identity.

Father Jegar invites the congregation to a deeper engagement with the mystery of Good Friday, encouraging a reevaluation of their personal trials in light of the cross. He presents Christ’s passion not as a distant historical event but as an enduring presence that enters into personal suffering, transforming and sanctifying it.

In conclusion, this homily calls the faithful to recognize the sacred in the painful, the divine purpose in personal affliction, and to embrace a more profound understanding of redemption that Christ's sacrifice offers. This message is intended to deepen the spiritual engagement of the congregation during the solemn observance of Good Friday, urging them to see their personal and collective narratives within the redemptive narrative of Christ's passion.