Driving up the hill of Aspetuck Ave, one could sense she was happening upon something very special. The quiet road was lined with trees as large and ancient looking as the mind can imagine. Up, up, until at last a scene out of a movie sat before me. A gorgeous New England boarding school campus set on 150 acres of lush, beautiful land. Old and new buildings alike, walking paths, more trees and fields of varying earth tones and hues, hydrangea bushes, manicured playing fields, but the star of the show was the stone chapel.
I had the privilege of attending the Canterbury School in New Milford, CT for high school. I was a Day Student, which is just a fancy way of saying I was among the twenty-five percent of student commuters. The other seventy-five lived on campus. Day after day, year after year, I got to experience the enchanting ride up the hill, knowing what soon lay before me was spectacular.
Good Friday
Every year on Good Friday we had a modified schedule leading up to a Good Friday Service in the stone chapel. From there, during the hours of 12pm-3pm the campus remained in absolute silence. No phones, no televisions, no radios, no talking. The top of the hill was silent. It was solemn.
At the time, I did not quite appreciate the magnitude of this practice. Years and years later, I am still reflecting on how profound and how very much a part of me this experience was. Every year on Good Friday I reflect back to the solemness on the hill. I cannot help but see in my mind’s eye, the solemness on the real hill, Golgotha.
I put myself in the shoes of Mary, Mother of Jesus. In the shoes of Mary Magdalene and John, friends of Jesus. Veronica, Simon of Cyrene, and the other sorrowful onlookers. I think of those who wanted the crucifixion to take place too.
Why is it Good?
My little daughter asked me the other day why we call Good Friday “good” when the events were so horrific. Jesus freely gave his life for our sins. His willingness to lay down His life for all of us is “good.” Our loving and merciful Father. It is almost too much to bear—the love He has for us.
Today, as we remember the solemness on the hill, remember too, it is good because He is Love.
Below I have included some quotes that I think are worth meditating on today:
“I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the cross than in serving the world and its pleasures.” –St. John Vianney
“Thanks be to thee, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which though hast won for us, for all the pains and insults which though hast born for us. O most merciful redeemer, friend, and brother, may we know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day. –Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)
[Readings: Isaiah 52:13—53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1—19:42]
