‘Is Jesus My Savior?’: Archbishop Golka’s Good Friday Challenge to the Faithful

Reflecting on Pontius Pilate in the Gospel of John, the newly installed Archbishop of Denver challenged the faithful to let Jesus become everything in our lives.

Archbishop James Golka kneels and kisses a crucifix during the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver. (Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic)

Is Jesus truly my Savior — or not?

On the day called good, faithful from across the archdiocese came together to honor Jesus’ sacrifice during the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver.

“We have arrived on Good Friday at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Our liturgy brings us to the day that Christ died. We are here,” Archbishop James Golka said.

The ancient liturgy didn’t simply reflect upon a historical event 2,000 years ago, but brought it forth as an almost tangible reality today.

In fact, the archbishop noted, every time the narrative of Jesus’ Passion is read, there is no shortage of grace-filled insights to take home. For Archbishop Golka, one figure piqued particular interest this year: “Pontius Pilate, who tried to wipe his hands of anything to do with the death of Jesus. Yet, every Sunday, a billion Catholics throughout the world put his name on our lips because Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate.”

Reflecting on this figure, the archbishop said he couldn’t help but notice how inquisitive the Roman governor was; he asked Jesus 11 questions. And as he asked those questions, we see how uncertain he is: with the Jews, with Jesus, with the sentencing, with his position.

“It appears as if Pilate is the one in authority, but we find by the end of the story that he has no authority,” he explained. “All authority rests with the one who is hanging on the tree.”

Archbishop Golka prostrates himself before the altar during the Good Friday liturgy.

Archbishop Golka blesses himself after adoring the Cross on Good Friday.

The crucifix is brought into the Cathedral during the Good Friday liturgy.

Faithful and clergy listen as the Passion narrative is proclaimed during the Good Friday liturgy.

The somber liturgy doesn't simply reflect upon a historical event, but makes it present again.

Faithful from across the archdiocese knelt before the Cross of Christ to adore Jesus.

Faithful from across the archdiocese knelt before the Cross of Christ to adore Jesus.

Archbishop Golka elevates the Eucharist during the Good Friday liturgy.

The crucifix is brought into the Cathedral during the Good Friday liturgy.

Archbishop Golka kneels to pray during the Solemn Intercessions in the Good Friday liturgy.

Archbishop Golka kneels to pray for the Church and the world during the Good Friday liturgy.

"Is Jesus my Savior or not?" Archbishop Golka asked in his homily.

As the Good Friday liturgy began, Archbishop Golka and assisting deacons prostrated themselves.

Also in attendance at the Good Friday liturgy were Bishop Jorge Rodríguez (r) and other clergy.

The Passion narrative is proclaimed during the Good Friday liturgy.

(Photos by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic)

In contrast, when Jesus asks a question throughout the Scriptures — he asked 307! — the tone is markedly different.

“Jesus is utterly fascinated by us and his questions serve as a corrective, sometimes a judgment, but always a helpful way to come to have more faith in him,” the archbishop said. “He leads us to a place where we know that he is the Truth and he is the authority.”

Indeed, the archbishop noted, at the very mention of “Truth,” Pilate famously retorts, “What is truth?” Little did he know, it was looking him in the eyes.

“Jesus will show him a few minutes later when he dies on the Cross. All truth, all authority and all power are shown to us in a love which gives itself away, self-gift. We call that redemption,” Archbishop Golka explained. “Redemption means that someone who unjustly suffers — look at Jesus on the Cross — who bears it willingly out of love for another, sacrifices it out of love for another. That can help the other. Jesus did that definitively. We are redeemed if we allow him to be with us and to save us.”

The invitation to “come to have more faith in him” is not only for Jesus’ interlocutors in the Scriptures, the archbishop noted; it is for us, today, too. Just as Jesus flipped the script on Pilate, putting him on trial while Pilate thought he was judging Jesus, our Savior today asks us a core question: “Am I your Savior or not?”

For Denver Catholics living the most solemn days of the liturgical year, the archbishop’s question is not abstract, but deeply personal.

“Good Friday is a trial day. The question we ought to consider is 'Is Jesus my Savior or not?' Because if he's my Savior, then that will affect everything that I do and however I live,” he said. “If Jesus is my Savior, then is he my everything and my all? And if he's not, then we have a chance today to make a choice to take one more step in listening to him question us, listening to him lead us, one more step to letting him be the Lord of my life. Today gives us that opportunity.”

As the Church around the world and across the archdiocese gathered to pray for the entire world, as she came together to adore the Cross of Christ, “which shows us all truth, all power and all authority,” Archbishop Golka concluded, there is one question to ask ourselves. Will we allow Jesus Christ crucified to be Savior, everything and all, in each of our hearts today and every day?

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Archbishop James Golka will continue his first Sacred Triduum as Archbishop of Denver, celebrating the various liturgies at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver. To join him in prayer, see the schedule below:

Saturday, April 4:

• The Great Vigil of Easter at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 5:

• Easter Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.