Do not hurt each other, with sharpness of tongue or slanderous talk.
Do not mock the prayerful people, for they are God's messengers of love.
Do not gossip and tarnish your neighbour's name, let God be the judge in all things.
Do not ridicule the ministers of our holy faith, for they lead us closer to God's truth.
On Mount Calvary, there was lots of jeering, ridicule and inhumanity on display.
In His unspeakable suffering, Jesus called out to His Father in heaven - "Forgive them , for they know not what they do".
Today we do know what we are doing, so let us pray together that had we been there on Mount Calvary, we would have shouted "Do not crucify Him, this is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and this is the Christ child, sent by our Father in heaven to lead us back to Him. Do not hurt Him so, do not mock Him like you do, over and over again".
I touch the wood of your cross now, my dear Jesus, and ask for forgiveness for all my sins, and I pray each day that I will not offend you again.
I place all my trust in you, all the days of my life. You have blessed me in many ways, and I praise your holy name forever. Jesus of Nazareth, I'll walk with you, I'll watch with you and I'll proclaim your death and resurrection by safeguarding the gift of faith that has been passed down to me from my beloved parents.
I shall be forever grateful for having such loving and kind parents to guide me towards the most wonderful knowledge of all, to know about Christ's love for all of us, no matter what! That we may love Him back ,no matter what - no matter when, how or where. It can be right away, in my labours ,in my joys, everywhere I go !
This is my prayer this Good Friday morning, in the year of Our Lord, 2008.