Today is Good Friday. It is a solemn day of silence and reflection, being present to Jesus in His Passion and Crucifixion. It is a day to “be still”, eliminate unnecessary conversations, avoid distractions, refrain from social media and other devices and maintain a quiet atmosphere. Set aside time for contemplative prayer between 12 noon and 3 p.m., the hours associated with Jesus on the Cross.

I struggled in writing more for a reflection for today. As always, the reflections I offer come from the center of my prayer. This time it wasn’t happening. I wrote a number of beginning paragraphs that went nowhere. My mind was becoming more and more cluttered with my own thoughts and words. My prayer was becoming self-centered. I was becoming frustrated and agitated with myself. Why this mess in my spirit? I felt something was blocking me from sharing what I anticipated would be a profound reflection for Good Friday.

While turning to Mary for guidance and inviting her to sit with me in the silence of my heart, I realized I was so busy putting together my own thoughts and words that I wasn’t listening deeply to the Word of God. I was a distraction to myself (and would be to others) if I would continue to fill my inner space with myself rather than listen deeply to the profound Word of God for today: Gospel of John 18:1-19:42.

Today I am totally present to Jesus from Gethsemane to Calvary, I want Him to know that I will never abandon Him. I promise that I will stay with Him through every moment of His agony, brutal beatings, mockery, stumblings and falls while carrying His Cross and unimaginable pain of His crucifixion. I walk with Mary whose heart is filled with the pain of her Son Jesus. Since His conception, their hearts have beat as one. No one will ever understand the agony she holds today in the silence of her heart. She and Jesus walk together and alone in silence on their journey to Calvary. I remain in silence today as I walk with them. My heart is pierced with grief. There are moments when I weep.

May today be a “sacred pause” for each of us to be present to Jesus in His pain and suffering. May it be day of silence and contemplation that allows us to grieve in the silence of our hearts. May we take time to be alone with Jesus and speak intimately of our love for Him.

– Sandy Setterlund