"Good" Friday?

Today is Good Friday.  The day is a religious holiday for Christians because it's the day we commemorate the passion, or suffering, and death on the cross of Jesus, our Savior.  Ever wonder why today is called "Good" Friday when it's one of reverence for Christ's death?  The day is called "good" because by Christ's death He showed His great love for man.  His death was Good for us because He died so that our sins will be forgiven, and we could then have a chance of eternal peace and happiness with Him in Heaven one day.


I highly recommend finding a Good Friday service, Stations of the Cross, or Passion re-enactment to attend today, or rent Mel Gibson's movie Passion of the Christ.  I pretty much guarantee it will move you and draw you nearer to Christ.  Many Christians mostly focus on celebrating Easter, Christ's resurrection, which is a HUGE deal, but many don't commemorate as much the suffering Christ did for us which, to me, is equally as huge.  By reflecting on His Passion and suffering, I don't think you can help but feel just how much He loves you.  To me, it's very emotional and beautiful.


Another act to consider doing today is to recognize the hour of Christ's death at three o'clock.  It says in the Bible that the hour Christ died was "three in the afternoon". 

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”^[e] When he had said this, he breathed his last.  -Luke 23:44-46


Today, at 3PM, our family will observe an hour of silence... free from TV, computers, video games, and talking (wish us luck with four kids ages 2-8! LOL), to help us remember what Christ did for us, and how he suffered.  You might consider it too, or at least say a prayer and pause for a moment of reflection.


Take a few minutes to listen to this beautiful song, Via Dolorosa (Latin for "Way of Grief" or "Way of Suffering", is a street within the Old City of Jerusalem, held to be the path that Jesus walked, carrying his cross on the way to his crucifixion) and watch the excerpt from the movie Passion of the Christ.

Many blessings to you this Good Friday and Easter Triduum*. May you feel His immense love for you today and everyday!

*(Definition: The Easter Triduum is the proper name for the three days that precede Easter Sunday. Starting with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday, continuing through the Good Friday service, and concluding with the start of the Easter Vigil on the evening of Holy Saturday, the Easter Triduum marks the most significant events of Holy Week (also known as Passiontide).  -About.com