Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BIBLICAL IMAGERY

(Fr Michael Boakye Yeboah: Vice Rector of St Gregory Seminary, Kumasi-Ghana)

GOOD FRIDAY

            How best could the men and women of the whole region of Palestine describe the crucifixion and death of Jesus of Nazareth? I can tell you that it can be very difficult to find a common description. The irony of Good Friday beats the mind. Where was the crowd that sung the chorus “Hosanna to the king of David” on Palm Sunday? If half of that crowd had come to his defense, Pilate would had set him free but this time the chorus changed from “Hosanna to the king of David” to “crucify him.” Man is complex being; no wonder scripture states that cursed be the man who put his trust in mortal men. Shakespeare was right when in Macbeth he wrote: “there is no act to find mind’s construction in the face.” Different groups viewed Jesus’ crucifixion in the following ways:

            To the High Priest, the Sanhedrin and their cohorts, the Nazarene’s death was a necessity for the safety and peace of Jerusalem and Palestine as a whole. Caiaphas is reported to have philosophized that “You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed” (cf. John 11:49-50). In his cynicism, little did he know that he was being prophetic because the death of Jesus Christ was to bring salvation to humanity. At times the enemy may think that he is intoning the slogan for one’s destruction but in actual case it may be towards a good end – that was the story of Jesus.

            The Roman government may describe the death of Jesus differently. Palestine was like a poisoned chalice for the Roman governorate and few people lobbied for that position. When Tiberius Caesar became Emperor of Rome, it is believed that he posted Vallerius Flaceus to the position but he did not last long. He was succeeded by the career diplomat Pontius Pilate. We are told from the first day, his wife never like the posting. Pontius Pilate himself is believed to have remarked that “cursed be the day that I succeeded Vallerius Flaceus; my life with these Judaeans has been one of continual uneasiness and distress.” For the Roman government, Jesus’ trial was initially thought to be another one of those criminal proceedings but later official report of Pontius Pilate to Rome tells a different story. According to excerpts of the report the Palestinian terrain wasn’t the same after the death of the Nazarene. The authorities may have found a way to handle one man with a harmless message but then had to handle hundreds of his disciples who spread all over preaching the same message of the kingdom. For the governor of Rome, Good Friday was a bad day in office. In hindsight Pilate may had given a different judgement on another day but all these happened so that scripture would be fulfilled.

            How did the disciples of Jesus describe the events on Good Friday? I can tell you that they were confused. Jesus was prophetic when he said to them: “You will all fall away, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered… (Matthew 26:31). The fear that gripped the disciples was unprecedented. Peter could not commit himself to faith in Christ Jesus his Lord in front of a common slave girl. Three times, Peter will tell the slave girl: “I know him not…” Like a sheep being led to the slaughter house, there wasn’t a single person to plead his cause. His death was a painful one.  If nothing else his loud cry of abandonment tells the whole story. Even he thought that his Father in heaven had also forsaken him.

            With all these circumstances, why will we gather today and celebrate this day as a “GOOD FRIDAY?” The number one reason or answer lies in the symbolism that: ‘unless a grain of wheat falls down and die it remains a single grain but if it falls down and die, it germinates, grows and bear much fruit’ (cf. John 12:24). His death brought life to many. In the words of our Ancient Church Fathers, this day will continue to be termed GOOD FRIDAY because through the death of Jesus, Adam’s debt of sin to the eternal Father was paid and his descendants’ record of sin was wiped clean…this was the day, that to set a slave free from his debt of sin, a prince’s life was set in exchange…” If there is another superlative to describe that Friday, I will employ it but we will continue to commemorate this day because it is a GOOD FRIDAY.

            As we commemorate this day, let us not lose sight of the great counsel of St. Peter to the early church: “You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Please let keep this always in mind. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PRAY FOR US.