GOOD FRIDAY

Every Good Friday evening Pope Benedict prays the stations of the Cross in the Colosseum in Rome.

The meditations for Good Friday this year have been written by Cardinal Joseph Zen, the Bishop of Hong Kong, and they echo the suffering of the Catholic Church in China and in many other parts of Asia.

The stations aren't the traditional 12 stations (although most are the same), for example the 4th station has been made "Jesus is denied by Peter", while traditionally it is "Jesus meets his blessed mother".

I especially liked the meditation for this 4th station, because it reminds me that we can do nothing good apart from God, and if we want to do good for Him, we can only do it with his help and grace:

"Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you" (Mk 14:31). Peter was sincere when he said this, but he did not know himself, he did not know his own weakness. He was generous, but he had forgotten that he needed the generosity of the Master. He claimed he would die for Jesus, but it was Jesus who was to die for him, to save him.

In making Simon the "rock" on which to build his Church, Christ involved the Apostle in his initiative of salvation.

Peter naively believed that he could give something to the Master, but instead, everything was freely given to him by Christ, including forgiveness after his denial.

Jesus did not withdraw his choice of Peter as the foundation of his
Church. After repenting, Peter was given the capacity to strengthen his
brethren.

The readings and meditations for all the stations can be found here

I also really like the meditation for the 5th station "Jesus is condemned by Pilate", because it reminds me that true freedom comes from doing God's will and what is right, no matter what the consequences. Our world thinks that true freedom is doing what you want, however you want it, but that's not freedome, that's enslavement to your own passions and to the world's pressures.

Pilate appeared powerful, he was in a position to determine the life or death of Jesus. He enjoyed that ironic reference to the "King of the Jews", but in truth he was weak, wretched and servile. He was afraid of the Emperor Tiberius, he was afraid of the people, he was afraid of the chief priests, while nevertheless despising them in his heart. He handed Jesus over to be crucified, knowing that he was innocent.
In his vain attempt to save Jesus, he ended up granting freedom to a dangerous murderer.
To no avail he sought to wash those hands, dripping with innocent blood.
Pilate is the image of all those who wield authority as an instrument of power, having no regard for justice.

Pilate condemining Jesus to death has always been a very meaning event for me, because it has always spoken to me of how awful it is when we choose to do something even though we know it is wrong, because we are too cowardly, for whatever reason, to do what is right.