Beloved parents, brothers, and sisters in Christ,
On this Good Friday, we stand together at the foot of the cross. When we look at Golgotha, we do not see merely a scene of suffering and death; we see the greatest revelation of love. The lashes, the cries of anger, the weight of the cross, the piercing nails, and the crown of thorns—all became instruments through which divine love was revealed. And the One who endured all this without complaint—our Jesus—like a lamb led to the slaughter, remained silent.
Today, as we remember His passion, we are invited to reflect deeply on this truth:
Suffering is not merely pain to be endured—it is a moment of encounter with God.
At first, this may seem difficult to accept. In our human experience, suffering often feels like God’s absence. In moments of illness, loss, rejection, or failure, we ask, “Lord, where are You?” But the cross gives us the answer: God is not absent in our suffering—He is present within it.
On the cross, God did not remain distant from human pain. Instead, He entered into it fully. In Jesus, God embraced suffering, transforming it into a place of divine encounter. The cross teaches us that there is no contradiction between suffering and love. Rather, the deepest love is often hidden within the deepest suffering.
When we look at Jesus on the cross, we do not see defeat, but divine transformation. His suffering was not meaningless—it was filled with surrender, love, and complete trust in the Father. His silence was not emptiness, but fullness. His cry was not despair, but offering. That is why the cross is not an end, but a beginning. In human eyes, it appears as failure; in God’s eyes, it is the victory of salvation.
Dear friends,
In our own lives, we experience many forms of suffering—loss of loved ones, sickness, financial struggles, broken relationships, and uncertainties about the future. These moments often lead us to question God’s presence. Yet, Good Friday invites us to shift our perspective—from asking, “Why is this happening to me?” to asking, “How can I encounter God in this suffering?”
When we begin to ask this question, something changes within us. Suffering becomes more than a burden—it becomes a meeting place with God.
We see this truth reflected in real life. In February 2026, the tragic loss of 10-month-old Aline Sherin Abraham became, through the courageous decision of her parents, a source of life for others. In the midst of unimaginable grief, they chose to donate her organs. Their suffering became an encounter with God—expressed through love, generosity, and hope. Their pain was transformed into life for others.
We are also reminded of Anjana George, a vibrant young woman who lived her life with zeal for Christ. When she was diagnosed with cancer, her dreams were shaken. Yet, instead of losing faith, she embraced her suffering as part of God’s plan. Rooted in the Eucharist, she discovered God’s presence in her pain. For years, she carried her suffering with joy and trust, eventually entering into God’s presence. Her life teaches us that suffering, when united with Christ, becomes a profound encounter with Him.
Similarly, the life of Sister Norbert shows us that suffering is not meant to destroy us, but to transform us. What began as a life full of promise turned into years of physical limitation. Yet, in her suffering, she encountered God deeply. By uniting her pain with Christ, she became a source of healing and prayer for many. Her life reveals that suffering can become a channel of grace—not only for ourselves but for others.
The Church also teaches us this truth. In Salvifici Doloris, Pope John Paul II reminds us that when human suffering is united with Christ’s suffering, it participates in the work of redemption. The pain does not disappear—but its meaning changes. What once felt like a burden becomes a path of grace. What seemed like loss becomes an offering. Suffering becomes a living encounter with God.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Suffering tests our faith, purifies our hearts, and draws us closer to God. It invites us into deeper communion with Christ and greater solidarity with those who suffer. When we accept our suffering in union with Him, it becomes redemptive—it gains spiritual value.
Good Friday, therefore, is not just a remembrance of Christ’s suffering; it is an invitation to encounter God in our own.
This leads us to a personal question:
How do I see my suffering?
Do I see it as a curse—or as a moment of encounter with God?
We are called to return like the prodigal son, to repent like Peter, and to live like Paul who said, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” When we unite our lives with Christ, even our suffering becomes a place where God lives and acts within us.
When we offer our pain to God:
- our wounds become sources of healing,
- our tears become hope for others,
- our struggles become testimonies of faith.
This is the mystery of the cross:
Suffering embraced in love becomes a transforming encounter with God.
In a world filled with conflict, division, and pain, the cross shows us the path to true peace—not through power, but through love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. When we forgive those who hurt us, when we remain faithful in trials, when we choose love in the midst of pain—we encounter God.
Dear friends,
Let this Good Friday not remain just a memory. Let it become an experience. Christ on the cross is calling each one of us:
“Come to me with your suffering.”
We are not meant to carry our crosses alone. When we unite them with Christ, they become moments of grace—moments of encounter with God.
Today, let us make a decision:
not to run away from suffering, but to enter into it with faith.
Let us bring every pain, every tear, every struggle to the cross—and allow God to meet us there.
Let us pray:
“Lord, help me to encounter You in my suffering.
Transform my pain into love.
Unite my cross with Yours,
and make my life a witness to Your grace.”
May this Good Friday become a new beginning in our lives.
May every suffering become a moment of encounter with God.
May our lives become a testimony of His love.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit… Amen.
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