The Crucifixion of the Church    61 

Good Friday 

    Christians know that the Passover which Jews celebrated for many 

centuries was a prophetic ceremony symbolizing Christ Jesus' future 

suffering and sacrificial death on the Cross. Yet many of the Jews in ancient 

times who celebrated the Passover did not understand this prophetic 

meaning. 

    In the same way, many Christians who celebrate Good Friday do not 

understand its prophetic symbolism for the future. On Good Friday, when 

Jesus' Crucifixion is remembered, the tabernacle where the Holy Eucharist 

is kept is left empty, and no Mass is celebrated (only a Communion service). 

This prophetic ceremony anticipates the time of the Church's Crucifixion, 

when the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Mass will be mostly taken away from 

the world. But Christians celebrate Good Friday without understanding its 

meaning for the future. 

Two Swords (Luke 22:35 38) 

     He said to them, `But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise 

a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. For I tell 

you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me,  and he was reckoned with 

transgressors ; for what is written about me has its fulfillment.'   (Luke 

22:36 37). 

    Jesus' advice to His disciples refers to a limited period of time. He is not 

saying that His disciples should always carry swords. Jesus is referring to a 

period of time when the scripture passage,  and he was reckoned with 

transgressors  will come true. 

    There will come a time when the Church, which is the Body of Christ, 

will be reckoned with transgressors, in other words, when Christianity will 

be counted as a crime and when all who practice the Christian faith will be 

treated as criminals. 

    Jesus gives advice to those Christians who will live during this time of 

persecution for the Church, to  use wealth, provisions, and even weapons 

(for self defense only) to survive those harsh years. He even recommends 

that Christians sell their mantle (or coat) in order to buy a sword (a 

weapon). This advice does not apply to most periods of time. It applies to a 

future time of great persecution for the Church. 

    See how Jesus' time of suffering is an image of what the Church's time of 

suffering will be. Since Jesus was treated as a criminal, so will His followers 

be treated as criminals during the time of the Church's great suffering. Is this 

hard for you to believe? Recall that many times during the Church's history, 

there have been similar events.