a good friday

Who better than Saint Augustine to help us on this day, when we are invited to draw particularly close to our Lord? We ponder our Good God become flesh Who allowed Himself, in His flesh, to be nailed to a Cross, so to say “I love you”. We ponder in order to receive. And, we indeed receive the everlasting love poured forth. We are loved. May this love be comforting and reassuring, strengthening and enlightening, challenging and transformative. By it, may you abide in God.

As they were looking on, so we too gaze on his wounds as he hangs. We see his blood as he dies. We see the price offered by the Redeemer, touch the scars of his resurrection. He bows his head, as if to kiss you. His heart is made bare open, as it were, in love to you. His arms are extended that he may embrace you. His whole body is displayed for your redemption. Ponder how great these things are. Let all this be rightly weighed in your mind: as he was once fixed to the cross in every part of his body for you, so he may now be fixed in every part of your soul.

Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo—now Annaba, Algeria—from 396 to 430, when he died