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| Observing Good Friday | | | Omkar Dattatary
Today is Good Friday and I pray to God to bestow strength and power of endurance to my Christian brethren to remember, recall and recount the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and follow the teachings and preaching’s of the messenger and prophet of almighty-Jesus Christ. All the religions of the world are great and all exhort mankind to lead a simple life and teach us to live in peace, harmony and live a contented life and remember God. All religions are the different paths to realize supreme reality and achieve divinity. The religion of Christianity is one of the great religions of the world who’s prophet is Jesus Christ who is the founder, prophet great teacher of Christianity and Christians all over the world revere, respect and follow his teachings to lead a contented and worthy life and serve the humanity. Good Friday is one of the main and important days of Christian faith and Christians observe it solemnly and pray to God almighty and remember and emulate the teachings of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Tridum. Tt is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday (also Holy and Great Friday) and also black Friday. It is commemoration of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and thus has much importance in the religion of Christianity and this auspicious day is observed with simplicity and soberly without enthusiasm every year .This auspicious day of good Friday is observed as the passion of the Lord. It is observed as worship services, prayer and vigil services, fasting and almsgiving is the main observance of this festival. Like all other religions of the world fasting is observed and alms are given to needy and poor. This year good Friday falls on April 3,2026 (Western). Good Friday is not a festival and people should know it. Good Friday should not be confused as a festival and the people and the followers of Christian faith should know that it is not a festival. Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, the day on which Christians annually observe the commemoration of the crucifixion of the Jesus Christ. From the early days of Christianity, Good Friday was observed as a day of sorrow, penance, fasting and alms giving, In Germany it is observed as Sorrowful Friday. Following the Synoptic Gospels, (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) the mainstream Christian tradition has held that Jesus last meal with his disciples on the evening before his crucifixion was a Passover seder. That would place the date on which Jesus died on 15 Nisan of the Jewish calendar, or on first day (starting at the sundown) of the Passover. According to the Gregorian (Western) Calendar, that day would be April 7. The Gospel according to John, in contract holds that Passover had not begun when Jesus final meal was held, which would place the date of Jesus death on 14 Nishan, Christians however do not commemorate that fixed date .Instead they follow the apparently flexible date of the Passover—which conforms to the Jewish luni solar calendar rather than the Gregorian solar calendar –by relating last Supper to the seder. Although that assumption is problematic, the dating of both Good Friday and Easter has proceeded on that basis. Thus, Good Friday falls between March 20, the first possible date for Passover and April 23, with Easter falling two days later. The liturgical celebrations of Good Friday has undergone various changes over the centuries .In Roman Catholic Church the mass is not celebrated on Good Friday ,though a liturgy is performed .Unlike Christmas and Easter which have acquired numerous secular traditions ,Good Friday has because of its intense religious connotation not led to an overlay of secular customs and practices .Despite its name Good Friday is a day for some reflection .Each Friday before Easter ,Christians solemnly honor the way Jesus suffered and died for their sins .They might attend a service that recounts Jesus’s painful crucifixion .It is observed by fasting ,offering alms to the needy and poor and remembering Jesus and his suffering and pain by his crucifixion and thus Good Friday is observed in a simple way free from pomp and show as it is the day on which Jesus was crucified and he died and thus no hustle and bustle is associated with Good Friday as in effect it is not the Good Friday but is observed as Bad Friday as it was the day on which Jesus laid down his precious life for truth and almighty and for the sins of the people he embraced death so boldly for the sake of supreme truth .Therefore Good Friday is observed by the Christians with all humility ,sobriety and simplicity and thus the observance of the Good Friday is devoid of any festivity as it is not a festival but the day of reflection ,contemplation and introspection and above all remembering the teachings of Jesus Christ. On this auspicious and sacred day of Good Friday Christians remember Jesus, his teachings and the pain and suffering he had undergone for the sake of supreme truth and he died for the sins of the people .Good Friday ,the Friday before Easter ,the day on which Christians annually observe the commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ . On the occasion of Good Friday c the day to resolve Christians resolve to practice the teachings of Lord Jesus the holy prophet of Christianity .If you were not raised as a Christian ---or didn’t pay close attention in Sunday school—you might not understand the importance of this day .Every Christian knows the tale .Jesus died and rose again for the forgiveness of the mankind’s sins ,promising those who believe in him eternal life .Christians typically celebrate Jesus resurrection each spring on Easter Sunday, participating in Easter traditions like Easter Egg hunts and gifting Easter baskets. But contrary to this Good Friday ,which is observed near end of Lent and falls just days before Easter, does not get the same attention .Only twelve states celebrate Good Friday an official holiday and many people do not know why they observe .Simply put ,Good Friday is the day for Christians to commemorate Jesus’s crucifixion .On this day according to the Bible, the Jewish religious leaders –who had condemned Jesus the night before for claiming to be son of God and King of the Jews –brought him to the Romans for sentencing. He was sent from Pontius Pilate to Herod and then back to Pilate ,who ultimately sentenced Jesus to crucifixion –the longest form of criminal punishment at the time .Jesus was beaten to death, forced to carry heavy wooden cross through jeering crowds and finally nailed to cross by his wrists and feet, where he hung until he died later that day. Despite its name, Good Friday is a day for sober reflection .Each Friday before Easter, Christians solemnly honor the way Jesus suffered and died for their sins. They might attend a service that recounts Jesus’s painful crucifixion ,and some even refrain from eating to show their sorrow. Catholic Churches strip their altars bare and muffle their bells as a sign of mourning. But Christians soon turn to happier festivities. On the following Sunday they celebrate Easter –the day of Jesus’s resurrection –with the church services ,joys songs and family gatherings .In brief Good Friday is observed in a most simple ,humble and sober way and it is devoid of festivities and is observed to remember ,recall and recount the pain and suffering of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for upholding truth and for atoning sins of the people.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist & Freelancer) |
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