Jesus fell and so will we, but the decision to get back up is what matters most, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge reminded the parishioners participating in the Good Friday service at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More March 30.
Statues throughout the Cathedral were cloaked in dark-toned purple with the congregation’s focus eventually brought to the medium-sized wooden crucifix held at the front of altar.
“In just a few moments, you will be invited to come forward to reverence the cross on which hung the salvation of the world,” Bishop Burbidge said before the crucifix was brought out. “As you come forward today, tell the Lord the specific grace — the help — you need at this particular moment in your life and entrust to Him your cares, concerns, burdens and indeed your crosses.”
The bishop cited several reasons why people stumble, including: deep hurt or mistreatment caused by others, inordinate attraction to the things of this world, the onerous burden of life’s trials and crosses as well as the death of loved ones. In finding courage from Jesus Christ’s falls we find courage, he added.
“In uniting your sufferings to the Lord’s and in reverencing his cross, you reflect your belief that when you are overwhelmed and fall, you will find in him the grace and strength to get up and continue to walk with him on the path that leads to glory,” Bishop Burbidge said.
He gave a real-life example of what this “getting up again” looks like by describing a close friend who was recovering from major surgery. Two of this friend’s children came to visit him at the physical therapy center. They walked and talked with him down a hallway, but to their horror, he suddenly stumbled. They did not react quickly enough to break his fall.
“It’s okay — how many times did Jesus fall?” the bishop’s friend asked his family members. “Help me up and let’s continue this walk.”
