For this column we will take a break from our usual harping on issues of societal and political undertones. We will instead attempt to look into how the Lenten season evolved and how significant is it to the members of Christian world, especially the Roman Catholics.
To be able to at least have a better grasp of the subject, we did some researches during the last few days using whatever manuscripts or on-line sources we have on hand.
One thing that puzzled us for the longest time is why the supposed commemoration of the day that Jesus Christ was made to suffer and eventually died on the cross at the hands of the Roman soldiers, is called “Good Friday.” The interregnum between his death and resurrection is called “Black Saturday” which we believe is just right. Why, because with the Christ dead it is but natural that the Christian world will have to mourn for the death of their savior.
On the other hand, we cannot fathom the wisdom of those who decided that the day the Redeemer died should instead be called “Good Friday,” a seeming contradiction to what should have been termed for a day of sadness for the faithful.
Our researches however, gave us some kind of liberating realization. This is what we got to know from the World Encyclopedia and a similarly narrated post on certain social media platform.
According to the above two sources and as what we had been aware for the longest time, Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday, the central festival of the Christian year. Good Friday is usually observed as a day for mourning the death of Jesus
Some Christian Churches hold a 3-hour worship service of Bible Scripture reading and prayer during Good Fridays.
The same sources however, say that the earliest historical records from AD 100s Good Friday had no particular connection with the mourning of Jesus’ death. It was simply a day of fasting before Easter. By the late 300s AD, however, Christians observed Good Friday with a long series of readings and prayers that focused on the death of Jesus on the cross. This service is held from noon to 3 p.m.
Again, while our researches have given us some liberating realization, still we are far from getting the most convincing reason why that particular day is called “Good Friday.”
Our only consolation is the thought that on that very day of the death of the Christ we are redeemed from our sins — more than enough reason for humanity to be happy.
Could have this fact influenced the wisdom of our early church leaders to call the day of Jesus’ crucifixion and death “Good Friday?”
We can only hope it did.
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Our fervent hope for this Holy Week commemoration is that it will remain peaceful and holy, and that no untoward incident will disrupt the faithful from their recollection of the passion and death of Christ.
We wish everyone the safest days of his or her commemoration and the enlightenment of the minds of those who are intending to sow havoc and destruction during this Holy Week.
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