There have been times in my life when I was absent as a friend approached their final days. It is something that I have always regretted. Today’s Gospel reminds me of both the consolation and the sorrow that come with accompanying someone you love in their final moments.
What was it like for Jesus at the end? His friends watched from a distance – still present, yet perhaps unsure whether to stay or leave. Caught in the weight of grief, they stood like mourners at a graveside, lost in their own sorrow, confused, sad and discouraged.
As they watched the stone being rolled across the tomb, what thoughts ran through their minds? Did they wonder if this was truly the end? Were they overwhelmed by grief, mourning a loss they couldn’t yet understand? Or did they recall His promise – that He would rise again? If there was one thing they had learned from Jesus, it was that He was always full of surprises. There was always more to come.
Then there was the centurion – a man who saw what many others could not. A Roman outsider, tasked with carrying out the crucifixion as efficiently as possible, unexpectedly found himself recognizing Jesus as the Son of God. Far from his home and his people, he discovered a new faith stirring within him.
In an environment of loss and suffering, this man stood apart, embodying compassion and love. Even in today’s world, where violence and injustice persist, perhaps there is always one among us – a witness to suffering – who will hear the call to stop and allow their heart to be transformed by the God of love. This witness like the Centurion, could transform the hearts of many.
Photo by Brady Leavell on Unsplash
Ronan Barry
