Good Friday, Passover, and Easter Weekend 2018

Today is Good Friday.

Good Friday, also known as “Holy Friday,” is the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday. It is celebrated traditionally as the day on which Jesus was crucified.  …

Why is Good Friday referred to as “good”? What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good (see Matthew chapters 26-27). However, the results of Christ’s death are very good! Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” First Peter 3:18 tells us, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

Many Christian churches celebrate Good Friday with a subdued service, usually in the evening, in which Christ’s death is remembered with solemn hymns, prayers of thanksgiving, a message centered on Christ’s suffering for our sakes, and observance of the Lord’s Supper. Whether or not Christians choose to “celebrate” Good Friday, the events of that day should be ever on our minds because the death of Christ on the cross—along with His bodily resurrection—is the paramount event of the Christian faith.

For those who celebrate it, Passover begins at sundown today.

Seder plate

We’re told that

Passover is a festival of freedom. It commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt and their transition from slavery to freedom.

The main ritual of Passover is the seder, a festive meal that involves the re-telling of the Exodus through stories and song and the consumption of ritual foods, including matzah and maror (bitter herbs). The seder takes place on the first night of the holiday, and outside Israel on the second night as well.

The seder’s rituals and other readings are outlined in the Haggadah, a book that provides a script for the seder.

To our Jewish friends, Shalom!  On Passover may all who celebrate rejoice in their traditions and be ever graced with the rich and bountiful gifts of life. Blessed Passover.

Sunday, of course, is Easter, when Christians celebrate the good news of salvation via Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

Gerald Manley Hopkins wrote:

Gather gladness from the skies;
Take a lesson from the ground;
Flowers do ope their heavenward eyes
And a Spring-time joy have found;
Earth throws Winter’s robes away,
Decks herself for Easter Day.
Beauty now for ashes wear,
Perfumes for the garb of woe.
Chaplets for dishevelled hair,
Dances for sad footsteps slow;
Open wide your hearts that they
Let in joy this Easter Day.

And so, rejoice!  Happy Easter.

The above photo shows pisanki–Polish Easter eggs, which

symbolise the revival of nature and the hope that Christians gain from faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. …

The oldest known Polish pisanki date from the 10th century, although it is probable that eggs were decorated by Slavic peoples even earlier. …

Today in Poland, eggs and pisanki are hallowed on Easter Saturday along with the traditional Easter basket. On Easter Sunday, before the ceremonial breakfast, these eggs are exchanged and shared among the family at the table. This is a symbol of friendship.

To all our friends, of every faith, have a blessed and happy weekend.

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