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Good Friday
By Fr. Victor Feltes

The four Gospels’ Passion accounts are rich in things for one could preach about. But on Good Friday the Church instructs that “after the reading of the Lord’s Passion, the Priest gives a brief homily.” So here is one short reflection on the Passion.

Pilate goes out and says to the crowd, “[Behold], I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” And indeed, Jesus is completely innocent. Having had Jesus whipped, brutally scourged, Pilate tells the crowd, “Behold, the man!” And Jesus, weakened and suffering, indeed shares in our humanity. Then for a third time, Pilate says, “Behold!” Mocking Jesus and the mob, Pilate says “Behold, your king!” And yet Jesus, crowned with thorns, clothed in purple, and seated on the judgement seat, is indeed our Lord.

In the Passion, we finally behold the fulfillment of what St. John the Baptist twice announced at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. … Behold, the Lamb of God.” Behold Christ upon his Cross for us; our innocent brother, our saving sacrifice, our loving Lord: “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.”

This entry was posted on April 3, 2026 at 5:59 pm and is filed under Feast Day Homilies, Homily, Jesus Christ, Passion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.