"If it does you good, then come!"
(St. Francis of Assisi)
Good Friday - a good Friday?
Good Friday - traditional background
Good Friday is observed during the Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding the Easter Sunday and may coincide with the Jewish observance of the Passover. Good Friday is also known as Holy Friday, Great and Holy Friday, and Black Friday. There is evidence pointing to the fact that the observance of Good Friday dates back to the time of early Christians. In the writings of Eusebius, the famous historian of Christianity (265 AD – 339AD), there are mentions of Good Friday Celebrations. Members of many Christian denominations observe Good Friday with fasting and sacred services in their churches.
Good Friday - the events according to the account of the Gospels
According to the Gospel narratives, the royal soldiers guided by one of Jesus’ own disciples Judas Iscariot, arrested Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Judas received money for betraying Jesus, and told the guards that whomever he kisses is the one they are to arrest. Following his arrest, Jesus was taken to the house of Annas, the father in law of the high priest Caiaphas. In the morning the whole Jewish assembly brought Jesus to the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate who authorized the Jewish leaders to judge Jesus according to their own law and execute sentencing. However the Jewish leaders replied that they were not allowed by the Romans to carry out a sentence of death (Jn.18:13). Coming before the crowd for a last time, Pilate declared Jesus innocent and washed his hands in water, affirming that he had no part in the condemnation of Jesus. Nevertheless, he handed Jesus over to be crucified in order to forestall a riot (Mt.27:24-26), and ultimately to retain his job.
Jesus was made to carry a heavy cross to the mount of Calvary and he was crucified there. Jesus agonized on the cross for six hours. During his last three hours on the cross, from noon to 3pm, darkness fell over the whole land, the earth shook and the veil of the temple was torn into two. Jesus died crying out, “Father, into Your hands I entrust my spirit”. Thus ended the greatest sacrifice in world history. Jesus died on the cross suffering for others.
Good Friday commemorates the new life Jesus gave to mankind through his death on the cross. The Gospel says that Jesus died at three o’ clock in the afternoon, at the ninth hour. In most of the churches Good Friday services are held during this time. Christians have the pious tradition of drinking bitter herbs on this day, in remembrance of the suffering of Jesus.
In a way, this day is also a day of happiness because Jesus made this ultimate sacrifice of himself to save us from sins and bring us salvation. The basis of Christian faith is the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore Good Friday is one of the holiest days in the life of a Christian. We are to dedicate ourselves completely to God on this day, through prayer, fasting and reading of the Scripture.
The journey of Jesus, carrying the cross from Pilate’s house to Golgotha was the greatest example of his love for each one of us, faithfulness to the mission of the Father, and the virtues of endurance, patience and forgiveness. Despite His innocence, he was condemned, ridiculed, tortured and killed. The apt themes of meditation on Good Friday are the last seven verses Jesus spoke while lying on the cross bruised, bleeding and shedding even the last drop of blood and water. Listen to thosecreaked sound of Jesus, finding a way out through his parched throat and chapped lips: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk.23:34). “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk.23:43). “Woman, here is your son” (Jn. 19:26). “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46). “I am thirsty” (Jn. 19:28). “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30). “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk. 23:46).
Good Friday is celebrated in Christian churches with prayers and services that throw light on the plan of God the Father for his Son Jesus Christ, and how the Son surrenders to the will of the Father. The reading of the passion narrative, comprising the events beginning from the pretorium until the burial of Jesus’ body, is one of the important parts of the Good Friday service. The other elements of the service are the unveiling of the holy cross, worship and reception of the Holy Eucharist and the way of the cross.
The day on which Jesus died is called Good Friday. How can we call the death of a holy man, good? Is it not better to call that day bad Friday or sad Friday? But we call it Good Friday because God did something very good and beautiful on that Friday: He made the salvation of humanity possible through the death of Jesus. Even when we are bad, God is good; when we are at our worst, God is at His best. In the beginning, God created everything and He found that everything he created was good. Whatever God does is good, because God is good. The death of His Son has brought the greatest of all good to humanity, salvation.Juliana of Norwich, the English mystic, while praying before a large crucifix asked Jesus, “Dear Lord, does it please you to hang on the cross for me?” Jesus, looking tenderly at her replied, “Juliana, it pleases me very much, it is not the nails that support the weight of my body, but the love in my heart for you.” Whenever we doubt God’s love for us, all we need to do is to look at Jesus on the cross.
Sr. Lincy Therese