Good Friday 4pm

Friday
4pm

Blood and Water

Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘None of his bones shall be broken.’ And again another passage of scripture says “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” (John 19.31-37)

The other two men were still alive after Jesus had died. The repentant thief saw Jesus die and knew that he was making a welcome ready for him in his kingdom. But now, the sabbath was approaching. The soldiers came along and break the legs of those who are still alive. Crucifixion kills in the end through asphyxiation. The one crucified no longer has the strength to haul their body up to take a breath. While the body hangs from the arms the chest is crushed and you cannot breathe. So if you break the legs then the person crucified can not longer raise themselves up and so they quickly choke and die. But Jesus is already dead so just to make sure they push a spear, a lance, into his side and out flows blood and water. Might this be a sacramental sign to us? There are two Dominical Sacraments as they are called – sacraments ordained by the Lord – baptism and the Eucharist. Perhaps John, in his Gospel, is pointing us to these sacraments flowing from the side of Christ. In the person of Christ we find humanity and divinity perfectly balance in perfect harmony. Fully human and fully God. At the Eucharist the priest says as the water and wine are mixed in the chalice

By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity.