From the Gospel acclamation: “God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 19:31-37)
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe.
After Jesus was crucified, it was the day of Preparation for the Sabbath, and the Jewish leaders requested Pilate to have the legs of those crucified broken to ensure they would die quickly and not remain on the crosses during the Sabbath. The soldiers came and broke the legs of the two criminals crucified alongside Jesus. However, when they came to Jesus, they found that he had already died and did not break his legs. The flow of blood and water from Jesus’ side is substantiated by an eyewitness account so that those who read the testimony may believe. The piercing of Jesus’ side confirms his death and the fulfillment of prophecy.
God, help me understand the yoke that Jesus asks me to take upon me. It is impossible for me to comprehend what that means to take on his yoke when considering his horrible crucifixion and death. Yet, the sacred heart of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is strength itself to endure suffering even more unimaginable than the cross. As Saint Paul says: “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Teach me, Lord, to endure the inevitably of suffering for the sake of your glory.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.