He was spurned and avoided by men,
a man of suffering, knowing pain,
Like one from whom you turn your face,
spurned, and we held him in no esteem.
Yet it was our pain that he bore,
our sufferings he endured.
We thought of him as stricken,
struck down by God and afflicted,
But he was pierced for our sins,
crushed for our iniquity.
He bore the punishment that makes us whole,
by his wounds we were healed.
We had all gone astray like sheep,
all following our own way;
But the LORD laid upon him
the guilt of us all. (Isaiah 53:3-6 NABRE)
Written about 700 years B.C., these prophetic words have been understood to refer to Jesus. As we sit at the foot of the cross in meditation today, these words give us a glimpse of the enormity of his sacrifice. They should inspire us to gratitude and spur us to action on behalf of others in need.
Today, on this Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord, I will venerate the Cross at my church during the Hour of Great Mercy.
Saint Alfwold, whose austere way of life set a Christian example for local royalty in Winchester England, pray for us.
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