DEATH means the end of the life of a person or animal. A reality we hate to talk about, we run from it but DEATH MUST SURELY VISIT ONE DAY. WHAT A MYSTERY!!! Death brings about pain & sorrows because our loved ones will never be physically seen again. IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS NOT FELT THE PAIN OF DEATH BEFORE? Certainly not, because we have at one time or the other lost a dear one.
GOOD FRIDAY, THE ONLY DAY IN THE WHOLE WORLD WHEN MASS IS NOT CELEBRATED. THE DAY CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR BOWED HIS HEAD & GAVE UP THE SPIRIT. WHAT THEN IS GOOD ABOUT THIS FRIDAY? WHY NOT, SAD OR SORROWFUL FRIDAY???
Yes, the whole church is mourning & wearing a sombre look, nothing on the altar, no flowers, no altar cloths, the tabernacle is empty with no tabernacle light, many Christians mark this day by wearing sober & dull dresses & clothes, no jewellery or make up, etc! THE REASON IS BECAUSE OUR SAVIOUR(Jesus) WAS UNJUSTLY & INNOCENTLY CONDEMNED TO DEATH BY PILATE & KILLED BY THE JEWS. However, brethren, it is A GOOD FRIDAY because, IT IS THE DAY OF OUR REDEMPTION. It was by dying that Jesus destroyed our DEATH. Through his death, the gate of heaven was opened for us again, after it had been closed through the SIN OF ADAM. THAT IS A GOOD THING, INDEED, THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO HUMAN RACE. Brethren, the lesson we should learn from GOOD FRIDAY include:
(1) That God loved us so much, even to the point of giving out his son (John 3:16).
(2) If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, take up your cross & follow me.
BRETHREN, AS I WISH YOU A HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY, I ENCOURAGE US TO THANK GOD FOR THE GIFT OF HIS SON FOR OUR REDEMPTION.
By: Rev. Fr. Francis Onugha