Good Friday

March 30, 2018

March 30, 2018

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March 30, 2018

Good Friday

Kimberly

Kimberly

Lymore

Lymore

On this second day of the Triduum, the day that is called Good Friday, we once again hear John’s version of the Passion. We hear that Jesus is resolute, recognizing that the hour has come for which he was purposed, to suffer and die, so that the world would be saved through him. Jesus was not afraid to speak truth to power. It was that truth that put him in opposition with the political and religious leaders of his time and it was that truth that led him to his death, death on a cross.

So what is good about Good Friday?

Good Friday is a somber day in church, reflecting on the death of Jesus and for the sins of the world that his death represents. We hear from the Prophet Isaiah a foretelling of Jesus as the suffering servant. Death by crucifixion was gruesome, humiliating, and public. Usually death by crucifixion was reserved for those who committed atrocious crimes, like the two thieves that were hanging on crosses with him. We know that Jesus was innocent of any such crime. One of the thieves also knew and recognize Jesus for who he was and said, “Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus was committed to justice, always siding with the underdog, those that were being oppressed by the empire’s systems, by the religious elites and by others. Jesus was guilty of going against the mandates of the empire. But Jesus stood his ground and because of his resistance to the injustices that were being perpetuated at the time, he was sentenced to death.

What is good about Good Friday?

On Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2018, a former student at a Florida High School went on a shooting rampage, killing 17 people. Since then, Parkland is seen as the turning point in the gun control debate. While that is a very good thing, let us not forgot that black and brown youth deal with gun violence each and every day. The sounds of gun shots are more familiar than children’s laughter when playing. Black and brown youth are not achieving their full potential. The demand for stricter gun laws started many years ago.
Our children are continually being sacrificed because of America’s fascination with guns and the greed of the congress who are allowing the NRA to line their pockets.

The time for thoughts and prayers every time there is a massive gun slaughter is gone. Let us not be like Peter watching and waiting outside the gate to see the outcome of what will happen to Jesus. The church has been silent on the issue of violence (and other issues) and it is time to be as radical as Jesus and stand up to the injustices that are plaguing our communities. The young people need our actions in joining them and demanding common sense gun laws: title guns like cars, raise the age for purchasing guns and enforce stricter background check policies. Arming teachers is not the answer.

What’s good about Good Friday?

If we, the church, the disciples of Jesus Christ, don’t take a stand who will?

When we look at the cross we can draw on the strength that Jesus displayed in his darkest hours. That is the strength that is needed to take a stand against gun violence, against racism, sexism and all other “isms” no matter the consequences and no matter the voices that are in opposition. Jesus died for our sins, once for all.

What’s good about Good Friday?

In John 10, Jesus said “I lay down my life for the sheep...no one takes it from me.

Good Friday reminds us that Jesus’ life exemplified just actions and love for everyone, especially the least of them.

What’s good about Good Friday?

Good Friday causes us to activate our faith. We know that Good Friday was not the end of the story. We have read the last chapter.

So what’s good about Good Friday?

Without Good Friday there would be no Resurrection Sunday.

 

En este Segundo día del Triduo, el día que conocemos como el viernes Santo escuchamos una vez más la versión de de la pasión de Cristo de Juan. Escuchamos que Jesús está resuelto y que reconoce que la hora se aproxima por la cual el existe, a sufrir y morir, para salvar al mundo. Jesús no le temía al poder, sabía hablarle a los que estaban a cargo sin miedo. De hecho le verdad que el hablo es la que lo puso en desacuerdo con los líderes políticos y religiosos de su tiempo, y la verdad que el hablo es la que lo llevo en fin a su muerte, la muerte en la cruz.

¿Qué tiene de Santo el viernes Santo?

El viernes Santo es un día sombrío en la iglesia, cuando reflejamos en la muerte de Jesús y los pecados del mundo que su muerte refleja. Oímos al profeta Isaías predecir el sufrimiento de Jesús como servidor. La muerte en la cruz es horrorosa, humillante, y publica. Normalmente la muerte en la cruz es para los que ha cometido crímenes atroces, como los dos bandidos a ambos lados de Jesús. Sabemos que Jesús es inocente de todo crimen. Uno de los criminales sabía que Jesús era inocente y lo reconoció y le dijo “Jesús acuérdate de mi cuando vengas en tu reino.”

Jesús estaba completamente comprometido con la justicia, siempre del lado del desvalido, los oprimidos por los sistemas del imperio, por las elites religiosos y otros. De lo único que se le puede acusar a Jesús es de oponerse a los mandados del imperio. Pero Jesús se mantuvo fiel, y por su resistencia a las injusticias que se estaban llevando a cabo en esos días fue sentenciado a la muerte.

¿Qué tiene de Santo el viernes Santo? What is good about Good Friday?

El Miércoles de Cenizas, el 14 de Febrero de 2018 un ex alumno de una escuela superior de la Florida mato a 17 personas.  Desde entonces la escuela de Parkland está al eje del debate acerca del control de armas de fuego.  Aunque esto es algo muy bueno no podemos olvidarnos del hecho de que la juventud de color tiene que bregar con esta violencia a diario. Tienen que bregar con el hecho de que mas conocen el ruido de tiros de un revolver que las carcajadas de niños jugando. Que la juventud de color no está logrando su máximo potencial.  La demanda para leyes más estrictas para las armas de fuego empezó hace muchos años. Nuestros niños están siendo sacrificados a diario por la fascinación de América con las armas de fuego, y la codicia del congreso Americano que permite que la NRA les llene los bolsillos.

El tiempo de los ‘pensamientos y oraciones’ siempre que acontezca otra masacre ya pasó. No seamos como Pedro observando y esperando afuera del portón para ver lo que a fin de cuentas le sucede a Jesús. Nuestra Iglesia ha estado silenciosa en cuanto a la violencia (y otras cosas también) y ahora es hora que seamos tan radicales como Jesús y confrontemos las injusticias que agobian a nuestras comunidades. La juventud necesita nuestro apoyo y nuestras acciones en trabajar con ellos para demandar leyes de armas de fuego de sentido común: titulando a las armas como los carros, aumentando la edad a la cual se puede comprar una arma de fuego, y hacer cumplir las pólizas de historias de fondo para todos los que quieren comprar armas de fuego. Dándole armas a los maestros no es la respuesta.

¿Qué tiene de Santo el Viernes Santo?

¿Si nosotros, la iglesia de Jesús Cristo no toma una posición, entonces quien?

Cuando vemos a Jesús en la cruz obtenemos la fuerza  que Jesús tuvo en sus momentos más difíciles. Esa es la fuerza que es necesaria para confrontar la violencia de las armas de fuego, contra el racismo, el sexismo, y todos los otros “ismos” sin importar las consecuencias ni importa que sean las voces que se opongan. ¡Jesús murió para el perdón de nuestros pecados de una vez!

¿Qué tiene de Santo el viernes Santo?

En Juan 10 Jesús dice, ”17Por eso me ama el Padre, porque yo pongo mi vida, para volverla a tomar. 18Nadie me la quita, sino que yo de mi mismo la pongo.”

El viernes santo nos recuerda que la vida de Jesús es ejemplo de acciones justas y amor para todos, especialmente para los más necesitados.

¿Qué tiene de Santo el viernes Santo?

Por causa del Viernes Santo nuestra fe se activa. Sabemos que el viernes Santo no fue la conclusión de la historia. Tenemos que leer el ultimo capitulo.

¡El viernes Santo es Santo, porque sin viernes Santo no hay domingo de resurrección!

First Reading

Is 52:13—53:12

PSALM

Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25

Second Reading

Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9

GOSPEL

Jn 18:1—19:42
Read texts at usccb.org

Kimberly Lymore

Kimberly Lymore

In 2000, Kimberly Lymore decided to leave Corporate America and pursue full-time ministry. Kimberly is a member of The Faith Community of St. Sabina since 1983. She was appointed the full-time Pastoral Associate at The Faith Community of St. Sabina by the Rev. Michael L. Pfleger on September 1, 2000. 

Kimberly is responsible for all the sacramental preparation of the children and adults. She is the team leader for Eucharistic Ministers and is on the preaching rotation for the 8:30 service. She is currently Convener of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium, as well as being the Director of the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program at Catholic Theological Union (CTU).

Kimberly Lymore received her Masters of Divinity with a concentration in Word  from CTU and she received her Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Union. Her thesis article was titled, “God Doesn’t Tilt: Making the Connection Between Worship and Justice.” Her goal is to be obedient to the plan God has for her life and obedient to his Word.

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