The “Good” of Good Friday
"For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life” (Romans 5:6-10).
“I Thirst”: Using Our Gifts to Quench Christ’s Thirst
In a message by Pope St. John Paul II for Lent 1993, the great pope called the Church to reflect on Jesus’ words, “I thirst” (John 19:28) and “Give me a drink” (John 4:7). In these words, he wrote, ‘we hear a cry from the poor, especially those who did not have access to clean water’. In a subsequent letter to the Missionaries of Charity, St. Teresa of Calcutta (then simply known as Mother Teresa) elaborated on this message:
“‘I thirst’ is something much deeper than Jesus just saying ‘I love you.’ Until you know deep inside that Jesus thirsts for you — you can’t begin to know who He wants to be [for] you. Or who He wants you to be for Him.”
This Lent, Catholic Women in Business invites you to reflect with us on how Jesus thirsts for each one of us and how we can quench His thirst — through prayer, through sacrifice, through loving His children who are most in need (and there are so many this Lent in particular!). In our content this season, we’ll be exploring how, as Catholic professionals, we can begin to understand “who He wants to be” for us, “who He wants [us] to be for Him,” and how we can share His great love for us all with everyone we encounter.
Good Friday often doesn’t seem to be very “good” at all. Thinking about Christ’s pain, ultimately ending in his crucifixion, is not a day most people would want to celebrate. But what if Good Friday were, indeed, good, and we took the time to understand the mysteries that Jesus brought to light that day?
In our own lives, when we endure a painful situation, we struggle to see the positive. But, on top of the mountain, with the clarity of looking back, we often understand that the struggle we faced was for our good.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Suffering Is Redemptive
Too often, we believe that suffering is a punishment for sin. When we look to the Bible, however, we find that while evil and suffering are related, there is no direct correlation between the sin someone commits and the amount of suffering he or she must endure. We often ask ourselves why we have to endure the pain or why God chose us to take on these heavy burdens. But, in these moments, we must turn the question around and ask, ”Why not?”
The same God who had his beloved Son endure pain on the cross allows us to experience pain, too. While we may not know what God has in mind for our problems, we must understand that there is good to the painful events that God places in our lives and that they reveal genuine opportunities for growth.
Beginning when Adam and Eve turned their back on God in the garden of Eden, humans have been plagued by sin and often choose our will over God’s will. In Jesus’ crucifixion, however, we experience the depths of God’s love for us and the lengths taken to save us from our sins. The death of Christ is the full demonstration of the infinite love of God. It shows us that God loves us and wants us to be reunited fully with him.
“For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:21-26).
When we think of how we can become stronger through suffering, we need to look at how God uses our difficult circumstances to bring about the good. Through the resurrection of Jesus, we understand that God can save all who believe.
Suffering develops our character and gives us the opportunity for sanctification. If we fall into the trap of darkness and despair, we will have missed the opportunity to develop our reliance on God. If we lean into our dependence on God while we endure our trials, he will use them for our greater good — for self-improvement, for self-awareness, and (most importantly) for deepening our relationship with him.
Finding the Good
In each moment, God is by our side to help, guide, and protect us. A great way to find redemption in personal suffering is to first remind yourself of how God’s remarkable will has already served you in your life. When you find yourself in moments of desolation, thank God for the gifts that he has blessed you with. When we step back and show gratitude for the small moments of life, it helps us to fully embrace the larger opportunities for thanksgiving. Make it a common part of your prayer routine to memorize Bible verses about strength and endurance to easily reference in moments of weakness. This practice will help you shift your thoughts onto something more remarkable: Jesus.
This Good Friday, let us rejoice in our pain and understand that only through the suffering can God bring us into the light of who he has intended us to be. As we meditate upon the hours during which Jesus endured his crucifixion, let us hold those moments as quiet reminders of the strength of God’s divine goodness. Trust, believe, and know that through all things, we will be uplifted and redeemed.
What will you leave at the foot of the cross this Good Friday? Together with Christ, may you rise and witness the glory God has in store for you.
Marissa Marguerite Lenon resides in Los Angeles, where she works as the philanthropy and retail manager for Kendra Scott Jewelry. She currently serves as the Los Angeles chapter president for Young Catholic Professionals. She also facilitates marketing, branding, and writing for Seeking Excellence, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Connect with Marissa on Instagram @bellemarissa_xoxo, or send her an email at marissa@thosewhoseek.org.