Good Friday: I See His Blood Upon The Rose

I see his blood upon the rose

And in the stars the glory of his eyes,

His body gleams amid eternal snows,

His tears fall from the skies.

I see his face in every flower;

The thunder and the singing of the birds

are but his voice – and carven by his power

rocks are his written words.

All pathways by his feet are worn,

His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,

His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,

His cross is every tree.

The Irish poet Joseph Mary Plunkett achieves in eighty-five words what today’s Good Friday Service achieves in one hour: to draw us so intimately to Christ, that we see Him in all things, that our minds seek and find Him in every aspect of our lives. That we identify with Christ, but most importantly, that we realize that He identifies with us.

Plunkett found Christ everywhere: he saw his blood on every rose; in the stars, his glory; in the rain, his tears; in every flower, his face; in thunder and the singing of birds, his voice; in every thorn, his crown of thorns; and his cross, in every single tree.

The mysteries we celebrate these days of the Triduum remind us that the Lord is near, and that he speaks to us through the ordinary events of our lives. He speaks through the joys we experience, and also through the heavy crosses we bear. He is close, he is near, never far.

We have a high priest, Jesus Christ, who sympathizes with our weaknesses, a high priest who has been tested in every way, yet did not sin. We approach Him today, in the midst of his agony, to venerate and kiss His cross, to receive mercy and grace, to unite our very own daily crosses to His. We approach with confidence seeking consolation in our struggles, our pains, illnesses, and sorrows.

Jesus has transformed all of creation. Not only human beings have been redeemed, but all of creation speaks of Christ and his saving work.

I see Him in the Passion we just heard proclaimed. It is a personal invitation to each one of us today to be drawn into the mystery of his suffering and death, so that we may find consolation and healing.

I see Him when kissing His feet on the crucifix. It is a personal invitation to follow him without reservation, even to the point of death.

I see Him in the empty tabernacle. It is a personal invitation to thirst even more for Him since His absence does not go unnoticed.

I see Him when receiving His Body and Blood from the altar. It is a personal invitation to be united to him in a unique and intimate way.

Where do you see Him today? Where do you see Him at work in your life? In what joy do you see him? In what struggle do you see him?