HOPE40 - Day 39 - Love That Suffers

Katie Donahue
Apr 17
4 min read

Good Friday

Today's Scripture: John 18:1 - 19:42

click above to read in full

When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.” ~John 19:30

Today we kneel at the foot of the Cross. It is the only appropriate posture - because what happens here is the greatest act of love the world has ever known. God made man is willingly betrayed, denied, scourged, mocked, stripped, and crucified… for us.

And He says: “It is finished.” Not with despair, but with triumph.

The sacrifice is complete.

The gates of heaven are open.

The tomb is sealed.

The earth is silent.

The seed of resurrection is buried in that sealed, silent tomb.

We wait.

We watch.

We hope.

What does this mean for us?

Good Friday invites us to sit with the gravity of sin and the depth of redemption. It is a day to be still. To accompany Christ. To offer our hearts in gratitude. To receive love that bleeds.

We do not hope in spite of the Cross. We hope through it.

What to Do

Fast and abstain from meat today. Let your body participate in the offering.
Read the Passion narrative from John’s Gospel.
Keep silence from noon to 3pm, the hours Christ hung on the Cross.
Venerate the Cross at your parish or at home - kiss or touch a crucifix slowly, intentionally, with reverence.
End the day in darkness. Turn off the lights after sundown. Let your home reflect the waiting.
Begin the Divine Mercy Novena Good Friday is the beginning of the Divine Mercy Novena. Follow the link to learn more.

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus, You gave everything for me. You held nothing back, not even Your final breath.

On this most sacred day, teach me how to stay. Teach me to stand at the foot of the Cross without running. To believe that Your death is not the end - but the door. Anchor me in the hope that Your love is stronger than death. In Your wounds, may I find healing. In Your silence, may I find peace. In Your sacrifice, may I find the strength to offer my life in return.

It is finished… but the story is not over. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen

HOPE For Your Health - Jesus, I Trust In You

FRIDAY: Extended fast from Thursday after dinner until Friday at 3PM (if you are able).

SATURDAY: 16:8 or you may choose to not fast, but keep meals simple and light, preparing for the great feast of Easter.

Encouragement for Today:

Today’s fast is a spiritual discipline with ancient Christian roots. If you are able, fast until 3pm, the hour Christ gave up His spirit.

Fasting allows your body to enter into the poverty of the Cross. It reminds you that you do not live on bread alone. It sharpens your hunger - for healing, for holiness, for Him.

Allow your fasting to be prayerful. Offer it for a loved one, or for a wound in your marriage or family. Let each feeling and thought of hunger hunger be a whisper: “Jesus, I trust in You.”

Nutrition Tip:

When you break your fast at 3pm, choose warm, simple, nourishing foods, like a small bowl of lentils, roasted vegetables, or warm bone broth. Avoid cold or heavy meals right away, as your digestion is in a restful state. This gentle restart honors your body and reflects the reverent spirit of the day.

HOPE For Your Marriage: Love That Endures the Cross

Today, as we reflect on Christ’s sacrifice, we’re invited to ask: How do we love when it costs us something? Good Friday love is not sentimental, it’s sacrificial. Jesus gave His body, His time, His tears. He forgave even in the midst of excruciating pain.

Marriage asks us to imitate this kind of love. It means staying even when it’s hard. It means silence when words could wound. It means forgiveness when we’d rather keep score.

This doesn’t mean tolerating harm, it means learning to suffer with one another in the ordinary pains of life: unmet expectations, exhaustion, miscommunication.

The Cross teaches us how to offer these small sufferings as a gift, united to the One who redeemed the world through His.

Marriage Challenge for Good Friday:

From noon to 3pm, enter into silence together.
Sit near one another in prayer or reflection. No phones, no talking—just presence.
At 3pm, come together and pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet or offer a short prayer of gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice and for each other.

Let today be a quiet renewal of your vow to love - when it’s joyful, and when it’s hard.

Tuna Chickpea Salad

On Good Friday, I like to keep our meal simple and just enough to take our hunger away. This is a great light protein source with a pop of fresh lemon flavor. Feel free to add other veggies like grated carrots and cucumbers.

INGREDIENTS

1 handful fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 can of tuna, drained
1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 medium tomato, diced
1 lemon, juiced
2 Tbsp good olive oil, plus extra to drizzle at the end
salt and pepper to taste
chopped parsley to garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Coarsely chop spinach and place in serving bowl.
In a seperate bowl, combine the tuna, chickpeas, tomato, lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper. If you are adding extra veggies, now is the time. Toss it all together and place it all on the bed of spinach.
Top with parsley to garnish if desired
drizzle with extra olive oil