After Jesus had been condemned to death there came a point where He had to pick up His cross and carry it all the way to Calvary.
He did not deserve it but He was willing to carry it because of what would be achieved by doing so.
So often I complain about the slightest hardship and yet I suspect that I am not alone. How often do we complain when we have to endure a hardship where we are disadvantaged. How often do we complain that something is not fair.
Is fair really a concept we see prompted by Jesus?
- He spoke of the last being first and the first last. This does not seem fair.
- He pointed out that if we are to lead we must become a servant. This does not seem fair.
- He said that if we are to live that we must die. This does not seem fair.
Jesus seemed focused on doing the Father’s will for Him.
ACTION: On this Good Friday what cross is God asking you to carry without complaining?
GOSPEL READING: John 18: 1—19; 42
Don’t forget to comment below.
Thank you for your reflections they have helped me a lot. Love Michele
Thanks be to Our Lord Jesus Christ! The True Light and Salvation!
Yes, and the realisation that our response to God o this incredible outreach of God to us……..this mind blowing event in history……is often “I’m too busy, don’t bother me “, or ” You don’t exist……it’s all a fairy tale “…….”our scientific minds know better “……… Or ” how boring! ” Perhaps our affirmation society builds up young minds to such an extent that we think we ourselves are self made, self sufficient. We don’t have a modern concept of being humble.
Thank you, Bruce, for taking me on this Lenten journey, with you .
Though, I gave grown up with the story and the knowledge, of Good Friday, this is the the first time, I have truly reflected, and understood the depth of God’s sacrifice and love, for me.
We continue to turn our backs, we continue, to walk away from his words, his teachings.
In this moment,….. I pause,
to reflect on all that was ‘given up for me”………..
Today, I view the ‘Good’ in this day,….. this ‘Good Friday’ –
That, he continues to ‘save us ‘ when we are unable,
and cannot save ourselves.
He continues to extend his hand to us, in goodness, and pure love.
It is so amazing to me how much God Loves us and what he does for us. The plans that God has for us that we don’t know about. God makes things happen for us in our lives and they are so wonderful indeed. I think that the cross that God wants be to carry and not to complain, is to keep persisting and working towards getting a job, and to continue doing so with all the pressures and stresses that I have in my life. Also I think that God also wants me to keep preserving and doing things through the intense headaches that I have had now for 12 years and I am presently still having. I have been for medicals tests and everything came back good. God is so good and wonderful , and God has given me so many blessings, and I am truly grateful and appreciative. Thanks for letting be share this Lenten journey with you Bruce. Thanks Erica
Thank you Bruce for stirring gratitude in my heart for the gentle love and compassion of our Brother and Saviour, Jesus. May our beloved Creator Spirit grace you and your blessed team in your Mission to be strong Simons in sharing with Jesus in bearing the Cross to bring Salvation to the whole world
Our Beloved Jesus died to set us free from Sin. This Good Friday I have been transformed to live a life completely to grow into an intimacy with Our Lord, more deeply.
God Bless you all,
Daphne.
Jesus my Lord and Saviour, my Redeemer on Good Friday gave His life for us to set us free from our sins and death. He made it possible to restore our relationship with God the Father. This is the goodness of this day for me and may I never forget. Thank You Lord. Please Lord Jesus be my Simon and help me carry my cross today without complaining. Lord please also bless Bruce and the Catholic Guy team for bringing today’s message throughout the world…
Valerie
The abject lone’liness of Jesus is what strikes me more even than the horror of what He endured for each one of us. When I reflect that the reason God became one of us was to show us how to live, and to live in community, the fact that not one of His friends stood up for Him, to witness to what He was really about…..fills me with a sadness I cannot put into words. Would I have had the conviction that so close a friend would most certainly have had? I don’t know, as I have never been challenged with such a decision in my life…….but I do know that I can speak out when I see injustice going around me, I can be a voice in the wilderness of places where love is absent, I can try to be Jesus for whoever needs a good fiend. Jesus’s message can only travel through our humanity. Jesus set us free to love.
With the great suffering of the Lord it makes me realize how much He loves us. I for now will try to do everything that will please Him. God died for His infinite love for all human beings.
I found your explanation very good. human and easy to relate to. Thank Ypu
Thanks Bruce & team for your consistent & prayerful messages during lent. It has been an added support & focus for me. I particularly appreciate your ability to reflect & share what is & has happened in your personal & family life. Thanks Bruce. Hope your wife & your mum pick up.
Bruce, I thank God for your “yes”, for without it…our Lenten reflections would be, simply ritual, but you have made each one of us truly grateful for the love of God for each one of us to reach out with what we have been given….I thank my God for your yes to God’s question…”will you listen to my word….and say yes…….I think God has a lot of very “green disciples…..humble enough….to wait on tables….all for OUR Lord…May God continue to Bless you and your beautiful Rosemary…..”remember”…..what God has done in you, and with you for His glory…. Let us all praise His holy name….”I AM” amen.
I am slowly learning to pray. Every day. Thank you Bruce!
And now I am praying for you with all my heart.
xo Barb
Thank you for assisting me through the Lenten season – I look forward to a similar program for Advent.
Yes Bruce, to know that you could touch the hearts of so many it is
wonderful – your reflections are helpful. Jesus really loves and cares,
which He has shown by giving His very life. How great is our God. Thank u.
Thank you for all of the sharing you have done, it has been a big help for
me to see things it different ways. Also you have helped in changing my prayer life for the better. I am walking away from this journey with new sight, more understanding and greater love of life and others. I pray you will continue what you are doing, I can seen the difference in me, so I’m sure it is helping many others. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or understood today as I have today, your sharing makes it easier for me to see, Thank you again for all of your time and sharing.
What touched my mind and heart today was the word Complain. As I am fasting in observance of Good Friday it reminds me to stay ever close to our Savior Jesus and any inconvenience felt today is nothing compared to what he undertook this very day! I can do this with strong faith and conviction that our Lord is right beside cheering me on! I want to do this so he knows my Love for him is to serve and live by his example not just read his Wisdom!
Blessings to all this Good Friday!
Thank you, Bruce for helping me realize how much God loves me. You are wonderful at delivering God’s message to all of us.
When I watched the passion on EWTN i realized that I have been a complainant and that what i always complained about is nothing compared to what Jesus suffered and Never complained.
I have simply resolved that I will not be complaining but pray when there something to complain about. Lord help to be prayerfull and be looking forward for ur resurrection on Easther.