Good Friday of the Lord's Passion

I could not finish the movie, The Passion of the Christ...

I made it to the scourging scene, and just couldn't continue... I was sobbing. And I realize that the events of that Good Friday must have been far worse than I imagine. Jesus endured hours and hours of suffering: betrayal, questioning, judging, negotiating, scourging, crowning with thorns, mocking, carrying the heavy cross, falling in the dirt and finally, crucifixion: nailed to a wooden cross in the middle of two criminals after hours of torture and humiliation. I imagine the rough edges of that heavy cross digging into his shoulder; His vision blurred by sweat and tears and blood dripping from the thorny crown on His head. I wonder if His face pressed in the dirt when He succumbed to the weight of the cross; or if the sun beat down on Him on that long, hard walk to Golgotha... He must have been hungry, thirsty, hurting, dirty, weary, but He finished the work of His Father. He gave His life for us: for our sins, for our good...

Today in every Catholic Church, we will proclaim the Passion of Christ, we will venerate the Holy Cross; we will not celebrate the Eucharist, but we will receive Holy Communion... and as we receive the Body, we'll remember Jesus' body broken for us. It's a solemn day, yet we have good reason to thank Jesus for His gift of love on this Good Friday.