\u201cIt is finished.\u201d
\nThese words spoken by Jesus
\nbridge back to the opening words of John 13,
\nthe beginning of the Book of Glory.
\n\u201cJesus loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.\u201d
\nThis \u201cend,\u201d this loving, is now attained in the moment of death.
\nHe is completely spent, poured out on our behalf.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is finished.\u201d
\nAs the Letter to the Hebrews teaches,
\nJesus is the great high priest
\nwho offers himself, once for all.
\nSo, to say \u201cit is finished\u201d is to acknowledge
\nthat his handing over of himself for us
\nshines forth in the great mystery of the Cross.
\nThe Cross of Jesus replaces all other acts of worship
\nas the one, true glorification of God.
\nAll other acts of worship pale in comparison.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is finished.\u201d We who are the community of the Beloved Disciple \u201cIt is finished.\u201d<\/p>\n But for the men and, women, and children It is not finished until there is justice for people It is not finished until women are full partners It is not finished until we no longer hold men and women on death row It is not finished until we acknowledge our deep spiritual hunger It is not finished until our nation It is not finished for many of us here today: Jesus says \u201cit is finished\u201d As far as our discipleship is concerned Abbot John Klassen, OSB “It is finished.”
\nThe Roman centurion makes a profound confession of faith:
\n\u201cTruly this man was the Son of God.\u201d
\nWith that, the Church of the Gentiles comes into being –
\nthrough the suffering Son, they recognize the true God.
\nThis confession of faith shows us the paradox of faith
\nthat occurs sometimes.
\nJohn chapter one reads, \u201cHe came to what was his own,
\nand his own people did not accept him.\u201d (John 1.11)
\nTo those who did accept him
\nhe gave power to become children of God.
\nIn Jesus\u2019 view all works and words of his life could now end.
\nFor all will be continued in the community of the Beloved Disciple,
\n<\/em>the community of faith that is founded
\nfrom the life-giving water and blood that flow from his side.<\/p>\n
\ncan be comforted by the words of Jesus at the Last Supper:
\n\u201cAmen, I tell you, the one who believes in me
\nwill do these works and greater works than these
\nbecause I am going to the Father\u2026
\nIf you ask anything in my name I will do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nwho find themselves on the edge of our society,
\nno, it’s not finished.
\nOf their suffering there appears to be no end.
\nWe have been called here at this most sacred hour
\nto hear once again the saving words of the Gospel.
\nWe are called to testify in word and deed,
\nthat the work of the Gospel is not finished.<\/p>\n
\nwho have a different skin color or a different sexual orientation.<\/p>\n
\nin our Church and in our world.
\nIt is not finished until those who hunger and thirst
\nfor regular nourishment and clean water have been satisfied.<\/p>\n
\nor kill them silently with sophisticated technology
\nso that we don\u2019t have to acknowledge their humanity.<\/p>\n
\nfor what it is and no longer try to satisfy it with material goods;
\nuntil we understand that we have to empty ourselves as Jesus did.<\/p>\n
\nhas come to a different relationship with weapons of destruction,
\nand a bias toward the use of violence as an ultimate solution.<\/p>\n
\nthose who suffer continuous physical pain;
\nor grieve the loss of a son, daughter or spouse;
\nor those who are in a marriage that no longer works;
\nor those who are stymied by regret at how their life has unfolded;
\nor those who no longer know what their lives mean.<\/p>\n
\nbecause he trusts that the community of the Beloved Disciple
\nwill be nourished and live from the water and blood from his side,
\nthat this community will live out of and through the gifts of the Spirit.<\/p>\n
\nuntil we complete our work in that Spirit,
\nit will never be finished.<\/p>\n
\nGood Friday,\u00a0April 6th, 2012
\nSaint John’s Abbey, Collegeville<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nThe work of the Gospel is not finished until there is justice for people who have a different skin color or a different sexual orientation. The work of the Gospel is not finished until women are full partners in our Church and in our world.
\n–Abbot John Klassen, OSB, Good Friday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1321,91],"tags":[728],"class_list":["post-13973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-homilies","category-liturgical-year","tag-good-friday"],"yoast_head":"\n