WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT THE FRIDAY? WHY DO WE CALL TODAY, GOOD FRIDAY?

 Friday, April 7, 2023

GOOD FRIDAY (Fasting and Abstinence)

THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S PASSION 

THERE WILL BE NO MASS TODAY IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ALL OVER THE WORLD 🌎

WHY?

First reading. Isaiah 52: 13-53: 12
Psalm 31: 2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25
Second reading. Hebrews 4: 14-16, 5:7-9
Gospel. John 18:1-19:42

TOPIC FOR REFLECTION

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BLOOD AND WATER SHED BY CHRIST ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY TODAY.

THE WATER: A SYMBOL OF BAPTISM
THE BLOOD: A SYMBOL OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

Today, the Holy Mother Church commemorates the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, He willingly offered himself as a victim to be sacrificed for the remission of our sins.
Today, the creator of the Universe is hanging on the Cross like a criminal; an innocent lamb to be slain.
Today, Jesus the Son of God is put to death.
Today, BLOOD AND WATER gushed forth from the side of Jesus, and St John Chrysostom, bishop rightly puts it in today's office of reading that the water is a symbol of baptism and the blood, of the Holy Eucharist.

His death on the Cross is Mass, this is the major reason there will be no Masses in all our Churches today. Kindly be reminded that the celebration of Mass is the re-enactment of what happened on the cross of the cavalry.
So, celebrating Mass today which is the commemoration of His death on the cross may not be necessary.

According to the letter to the Hebrews chapter 9: 13-14, says
13. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh.
14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Still reading further in the same passage, the author said that in the Old Testament, the priests offers repeatedly the blood of goats 🐐 and bulls for the forgiveness of sin; but Christ has offered Himself once and for all.

Saint John Chrysostom went further in today's office of reading saying, "From these two sacraments (Blood and Water) the Church is born: from baptism, “the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit,” and from the holy Eucharist. Since the symbols of baptism and the Eucharist flowed from His side, the Church was fashioned from His side on the cross of cavalry, as He (God) had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam.
Do you understand, then, how Christ has united his bride to himself and what food he gives us all to eat? By the same food, we are both brought into being and nourished. As a woman nourishes her child with her blood and milk, so does Christ unceasingly nourish with his blood those to whom he has given life."

There brethren, let us try to appreciate the Lord's passion in our way of life, by not crucifying him again and again with our evil deeds.

Therefore, the re-enactment of Jesus' command that we should do this in memory of Him, is done daily at every Mass.
At Mass, the Priest offers the Host, mixes the Wine and Water during the consecration, and invites the Holy Spirit to turn it into the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the meaning of re-enactment which is the same as the Body and Blood Christ offered for us today on the Cross of Calvary.
However, the only difference is that on the Cross of Calvary, Jesus is seen bleeding, while on the Altar is not seen bleeding. Yet, the sacrifice at the Cross of Calvary is the same as the sacrifice on the Altar.

Remember that the Priest acts in persona Christi (in the person of Christ). It means that it is Christ himself who offers the sacrifice of the Mass on the altar as He did on the Cross of Calvary.
For instance, it is not your parish priest whom you know that is celebrating the Holy Mass, but Christ Himself celebrating.

This is the center of our Faith, we believe it, we profess it, and we are proud of it.

Nevertheless, today is called Good Friday simply because Jesus died for our sins. 

Today, we become new creatures. He sets us free from sin and won for us salvation with His death on the cross. 

So, His sacrificial pain and death become Good for us on this Friday. 

More reason the church encourages us to sacrifice for the Good of one another, just as Jesus sacrificed for us. 

May God help us all. 

Peace ✌️ be with you.

Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.

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