[Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12; Psalm 30; Hebrews4:14-16, 5:7-9; John 18:1 – 19:42]

When Pope Francis declared 2025 as the Year of Hope, he said “May the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the ‘door’ (cf. Jn 10:7,9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere, and to all as ‘our hope’ (1 Tim 1:1),” 

When we think of the Passion of Our Lord it might be difficult to see hope in this part of Scriptures. Fortunately, St John’s Passion; which we read every Good Friday; portrays a journey of triumph – where Christ, through being lifted up on the Cross; will draw all people to himself.

By drawing us to Him, Jesus, again defies all human logic. He, who the Jews and the Romans looked upon as hopeless whilst hanging on the Cross; is the source of hope for all mankind. Jesus told us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

In this Holy Year, we are encouraged to be pilgrims of hope acknowledging Jesus, our Crucified Christ; as the door of salvation.

As Catholic Christians we should not allow this year to pass without making the time to do something special to improve our personal relationship with Christ; for we know that the Crucifixion was not the end, but necessary, to allow Jesus to conquer death; when He rose from the dead on the first Easter Sunday.

This year the Church have given us symbolic doors to walk through, to enable us to decide to walk through and greet Jesus the door of our salvation.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Friday of the Passion of the Lord

CCC 602-618, 1992: the Passion of Christ
CCC 612, 2606, 2741: the prayer of Jesus
CCC 467, 540, 1137: Christ the High Priest
CCC 2825: Christ’s obedience and ours

Please keep in your prayers this week

  • Polly and Audrey as they prepare to make their final preparations to come into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
  • The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
  • Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
  • The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
  • All who are on holidays, that they may be kept safe and enjoy the opportunity to be refreshed.

Deacon Tony, 18th April 2025