Friday April 7, 2023

YOUR PATH: Home » Daily Reflections » Friday April 7, 2023

Good News Reflections:
Making scripture meaningful to your daily life
by Terry Modica

“Jesus subjected himself to intense pains because He loves you!”

Good News Reflection for:

Good Friday
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
April 7, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for enduring the most extreme pain and the most horrific death out of love for humanity. Thank You for sacrificing everything to save us from the effects of sin. Amen.

Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
gnm.org/SaintQuotes/

Today’s Readings:

Isaiah 52:13–53:12
Psalm 31:2,6,12-13,15-17,25
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1–19:42
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040723.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-april-7-2023

The healing gift of Christ’s death

Over the centuries since his death and resurrection, Jesus has revealed to mystics that those who meditate on his Passion are very dear to him. St. Augustine wrote that “there is no more profitable occupation for the soul than to meditate daily on the Passion of Our Lord.”

The crucifixes we see today are cleaned-up versions of the horrible torture that Our Lord suffered because of his love for us. Today, meditate on this love, this tremendous love. He willingly subjected himself to intense pains because he loves you and he knew it would do a tremendous good for you.

This is an infinitely valuable gift that Jesus has given to you and to me and to everyone who accepts it. Read today’s Gospel passage while meditating on the fact that every moment of pain he suffered was offered for your benefit so that your sins would not destroy you.

That’s how important you are to God! That’s how much he cares!

Looking at Jesus on the Cross should cure any low self-esteem we have, because it shows how highly he esteems us: He gave us heaven! Since he has done this for you, will he not also do everything else besides, if it’s truly good for you?

What sufferings have caused you to doubt yourself, or to think unkindly about yourself, or to feel poorly about yourself? Take them to the Cross. How? Imagine giving them to a soldier. Now, watch him nail them into the hands and feet of your beloved Savior.

Let these wounds die with Jesus; no matter how badly they have hurt you, he has already taken the brunt of the beatings for you.

In the Good Friday services of the Catholic Church, we venerate the Cross by kissing it. Let your kiss be a gift of “thank you” to Jesus.

Then rest in the silence of the tomb with Jesus on Holy Saturday. Rest in the truth about how valuable you are to the Lord. On Easter Sunday, as we joyfully celebrate his resurrection, he has a glorious resurrection waiting for you!

Spend sacred time with Jesus today by giving him a list of all the ways you feel bad about yourself. List the people who’ve ridiculed you and insulted you. List the times you’ve felt worthless. List the reasons why you feel unlovable. List everything that gives you low self-esteem.

Then, while looking at a crucifix, meditate on the gift of sacrificial love that Jesus has given to you. Remember, he subjected himself to intense pains because he loves you! He knew it would bring you into the kingdom of God where he wants to spend eternity with you!

To help you meditate on this, read “The Healing Wounds of Jesus“: wordbytes.org/healing-wounds-of-Jesus/.

Access more in our new Calendar of Reflections.

To distribute the Good News Reflections in your church bulletin or in RCIA or faith sharing groups, please contact us.

You can also receive this & more faith-builders by text message on your phone.

Keep it going! This reflection reached you thanks to benefactors. Please support this ministry today.

Post your prayer request.

How else can we serve you today? Visit our homepage.

Search more reflections in our continually growing database.

Homebound, Prison & Hospital Ministers are invited to print and distribute them without further permission.

Continue your prayer time with these:
Pray with Saints | Pray the Rosary | Other Prayers | Random Quotes.

Order and share Terry Modica's books

Socialize with us at:

Please share this with others by inviting them to visit this page. You may also print this for your personal use and you may share the print-out with others.