The Easter Triduum: Looking At Good Friday

Following the publication on Maundy Thursday as part of the Easter Triduum, the next day after the Holy Thursday is Good Friday or Holy Friday.

Good Friday as is popularly called, is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover.

Speaking to D.C. Kwame Kwakye on GBC Radio Central on Friday, 2nd April, 2021, Fr. Domenick Eshun, the Parish Priest of the St. Teresa of Avila Anglican Parish at Brofoyedur within the Anglican Diocese of Cape Coast explained that, just as Christ Jesus had finished washing the feet of his disciples, he and disciples moved into the garden of Gethsemane.

Christ had gone there to pray to avert the impending death that was awaiting him. This prayer was for God his Father to let the impending suffering pass him by but, God the Father did not listen because of his divine salvivic plan for humanity.

All these activities happened on the Holy Thursday night.

In the morning of Friday the following day, Jesus Christ was sent to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate to be tried for two main reasons: 1. For equating himself to God and 2. For saying He would destroy the temple and build it in three days.

According to Fr. Domenick Eshun, the Jews then misunderstood Jesus' second statement to mean he was going to destroy their physical temple built by Solomon which had taken them 600 years to build. "Neither did they know He was talking about a spiritual temple which he said, he would destroy this temple and I shall build it in three days".

To support the above he quoted 1Corinthians 6:19 "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own".

With reference to this, Fr. Eshun explained that, Jesus was talking about the spiritual temple which He Christ referenced that he was going to destroy and build in three days. "That temple is the hurt of man".

The Anglican Father added, it was after this praetorium experience, that Pontius Pilate not finding any fault with Jesus, released him to the mob to be condemned to death.

According to the Reverend Father, this suffering of Jesus Christ was what eventually brought him the crown. He added, "Christians must not be pliable. Pliables are those who want to gain in life without suffering. Life doesn't work like that".

In his view, these are the lessons the church need to drum home during Good Friday Liturgical celebration. Such reminders can help Christians appreciate that, "No suffering, no crown" in order to ease the minds of the youth of today, to learn the virtue that, there are no short cuts to life.

Quoting St. Augustine "Whoever, runs away from the crosses God sends him, certainly meets with another which is more afflicting" to support the no suffering no crown virtue as taught by Christ Jesus.

From St. Augustine's View point, the weight of the cross are the afflictions that we encounter in our Christian pilgrimage. So, the neglect, sicknesses, poverty and others must be used as stepping stones to carry on in life. Thus "Having a positive mind" he averred.

He added there is no short cut in life and whatever one sows today shall be reaped tomorrow. "So if you Sow suffering today, you shall reap joy tomorrow".

Further, Fr. Eshun said the suffering led to the death of Christ and so must Christians also hold unto their faith and to help them to rise above all things that confronts them.

On this same Good Friday, Christ Jesus was crucified and died. The death of Jesus according to Father Eshun brought a reconciliation between humans and God and in "Practicality, we also need to bring about reconciliation between ourselves and neighbours. Hence the cross".

In concluding, he said all the above is what makes the day Good Friday, because of what is has brought to Christendom.