Sometimes, the most amazing, life-changing things can happen right in front of us, and we don’t even know it. It’s only later on that we learn of the significance. Certainly on December 7 th, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and November 22 nd, 1963 when President Kennedy was shot, and even on September 11 th, 2001, when the terrorist attacked, there were many people who had no idea was happening. It was only later that they would discover how important these events were.

It’s also true that on the day that Jesus died, there certainly were many people in Jerusalem who had no idea how important that day was. In the neighborhoods of Jerusalem, in the Temple and its precincts, and even at the foot of the Cross, for many, it was business as usual on that first Good Friday. Jesus was just another criminal. It was just another execution. The Jewish people of Jerusalem were busy with getting ready for Passover. Oh sure, everybody would have noticed the terrible storm that all of a sudden came up at 3:00 O’clock. That was a heck of a storm! And maybe there were those who thought it odd that at the same time that this terrible storm is hitting, there was an earthquake in Jerusalem. What a strange coincidence that was! We see “coincidences”. We chalk them up to being “coincidences”, and then we don’t think about them anymore. We do it all the time. They did it two thousand years ago too. And maybe a few people saw the connection between Jesus and Judas. On that first Good Friday, they would have found the body of Judas hanging from a tree. Surely some must have thought it odd, that this man who was one of Jesus’ closest followers, would have hung himself on the day of his Master’s execution. Maybe they would have chalked it up to grief. They didn’t have the forensics that we have today to know that Judas most likely died before he even knew about Jesus. Yeah, there were many strange “coincidences”, but all in all, to most people, it didn’t matter. They had supper on Friday night. They went to bed. And they got up on Saturday morning without giving it all a second thought.

I think that this is important for us to realize, because today, even with all that we know about Jesus, many, many people treat this event and this day the same way. Today we even know about the Resurrection, and still, people don’t care about what Jesus did on that Cross. For how many people, even people who call themselves “Catholic”, is today just another Friday. “Oh, there having something over at church today, aren’t they. But then again, they’re always having something over at church, aren’t they?” It was sad enough that so many people in Jerusalem didn’t realize what was happening two thousand years ago. It is much sadder, that two thousand years later, so many still don’t realize what our God has done for us on this day. We need to open our eyes. We need to see beyond the “coincidences”. We need to acknowledge that He did that for us. Not just for people two thousand year ago, not just for people in the Holy Land, and not just for people who wore robes. Jesus died on that cross for YOU and for me. If we can’t get that straight, if today is just like every other day, if we can’t see how what He did on that Cross is supposed to change us every single day, then something is terribly, terribly, wrong. When Pilate, presented the scourged Jesus to the crowds, he said “Ecce Homo”, “Behold the Man!” Pilate thought that that would be enough. It wasn’t for the Jews. Today we look at Jesus on the Cross. In just a few minutes, we will venerate the Cross. Is that enough for us? What more has God got do to prove His love? What more CAN God do? This God wants our souls. He wants to be with us forever.

The question is: Are we going to let Him? Pay attention to what’s going on here today. Realize the significance of what’s still happening today two thousand years later. Don’t find out later, just how important what’s going on today, really is.

May God bless us on this Good Friday, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… AMEN !!!