Many have difficulty with death, even Jesus

During the Passion Play on Good Friday at St. Joseph Church in Chauvin, a young person was heard crying aloud when the actors portrayed the death of Jesus on the cross. I asked a knowledgeable adult sitting next to me whether the cry came from an actor or a child. She answered, “A child.”

Good Friday is perhaps the most powerful and significant event in the story of our faith. Yet, Good Friday is a challenge for many, forcing some to ignore the day instead of gathering in front of a wooden cross where we face the stark reality of what happened one Friday 2000 years ago.

Many people have the day off so they can honor Jesus for his great sacrifice, which freed us from sin and death. Too many people choose to party instead of honoring Jesus for his sacrifice.

We have a hard time dealing with death in our country. The young person in the audience could express her deep feeling of sadness over what happened to Jesus. It’s a shame that all adults can’t do the same.

Good Friday is not easy. Good Friday does not seem good in the ears of those who hear the scripture account of one who was mocked, beaten, stripped, nailed and crucified. Yet, this is God’s gift to us. God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to free us from our sins. Maybe one day we will all learn to face Jesus and say, “Thank you.” It’s the least we can do.

Someone wrote an obituary for Jesus. It reads:

“Jesus of Nazareth, 33, died Friday on Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha, the place of the skull, located outside the City of Jerusalem. After being betrayed by his own apostle Judas, Gov. Pontius Pilate ordered that Jesus be executed Roman-style. The causes of death were crucifixion, extreme exhaustion, severe torture and loss of blood. Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, was a member of the house of David. He was the son of the late Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth, and Mary, his devoted mother.

“Jesus was born in a stable in the city of Bethlehem, Judea. He grew up in Nazareth and made Capernaum his hometown. Jesus was educated in the tradition of a Rabbi and spent most of his adult life working as a teacher. He also occasionally worked as a physician, healing many people with his special touch.

“Until the time of his death, Jesus was teaching and sharing the Good News of God’s love for humanity, healing the sick, touching the lonely, feeding the hungry, and helping the poor. He was most noted for telling parables about God’s Kingdom and performing miracles, even raising people from the dead.

“On the night before his death, Jesus held a special supper celebrating the Passover Feast, at which he foretold his death. After his death, his friends quickly buried the body in a stone grave, which Joseph of Arimathea, a loyal friend of the family, donated. On orders from Pontius Pilate, they rolled a boulder in front of the tomb. Pilate assigned Roman soldiers to stand guard so no one would steal his body.

“Instead of flowers, the family has requested that everyone try to live as Jesus did. Friends of Jesus may send donations to anyone in need.”

I will be signing my book, “What a Life!,” from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Catholic Book Store (3003 S. Carrollton Ave.) in New Orleans, and Sunday after the 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. masses at St. Francis de Sales Church in Houma. Please help me get the word around. Thank you for your love and support.