Homily for Good Friday: April 14, 2006

Given by the Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton.

As we solemnly commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ, we ask ourselves how we enter most fully into this great event of redemption. How do we experience salvation today, living in 2006?

The Tradition of the church tells that the water and blood flowing from the side of Jesus symbolize baptism and the eucharist. When one comes to faith – believing in Jesus Christ – one is baptized, and in the baptism plunges fully into the death and resurrection of Jesus. One is cleansed by the waters of baptism There is only one baptism because there is only one death of Jesus. Most of us were baptized as infants because of the faith of our parents and the faith of the Church community. Our faith grows and deepens after baptism. To be a Christian is to live our baptism as a member of the Church, as a member of the community of the redeemed. We were only baptized once but we know that we can and do reject our baptism when we sin grievously. Since Christ can only die once and we can be baptized into His death only once, what do we do if we sin? How do we regain the grace of redemption? How do we re-enter into the experience of salvation? It is by the sacrament of penance. Confession is a second baptism, a rebirth into grace. When we were baptized we were anointed in the Holy Spirit who confirms us in our faith and strengthens us to be faithful to God in our daily lives. Baptism is the sacrament of our redemption.

The blood which flowed from the side of Christ symbolizes the eucharist in which the one, great act of Christ’s redemption becomes present sacramentally on our altars.
In the liturgy of the eucharist, the Church offers to God the great sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. Although the passion and death of Christ occurred only once in history; although Christ redeemed us once and for all; although all grace flows from this one great event, nevertheless the Church lifts up in her worship this great sacrifice to God over and over again. It is the Church’s offering. While indeed the Church makes this offering, it is Christ Himself in the Eucharist who continues to offer Himself to the Father on our behalf. The redemption of Christ happened in history, but it will never end. The offering of Christ is eternal. Christ in the glory of heaven continues to offer himself to the Father for us. He is our eternal high priest. We become engaged in this great offering when we join with Christ in giving ourselves to God. We offer our whole lives to God, everything we are and everything we do.

Today we celebrate the passion and death of Jesus Christ. We celebrate our redemption.
To live in the redeeming grace of God is to live our baptism faithfully and to offer ourselves to God through Christ, with Christ and in Christ in the Eucharist.

Last Update February 28, 2007