On Good Friday, the key word is ‘faith’.
“Good Friday is really the centerpiece of the Christian faith”, says Rev. Lloyd Joiner of Progressive Baptist Church.
“Good Friday is almost at the core of the Christian faith for we Methodists,” adds Covenant United Methodist Church’s Rev. Jon Tellifero.
“It is one of the most pivotal days in the Christian faith,” agrees Eric Treuil of UL’s Chi Alpha Campus Ministry.
As you can see, the importance of Good Friday in the broad sense to the Christian community is rather universal. But Christ’s sacrifice in the Corona Era? According to the heads of five local churches (and denominations), that takes on a different definition or meaning.
“Jesus is suffering and bleeding and being pierced oh the cross,” explains Father Mario Romero of Holy Cross Catholic Church. “So I kind of picture ourself in that time, lord how long is this going to go? what is this gonna involve? What kind of pain are we gonna’ experience?”
The parallels. Parallels between what Christians believe to be the ultimate sacrifice, and the sacrifices being made by humans in the spring of 2020.
Just ask Tellifero. “Where we the disciples after his death and anticipating the resurrection? They were fearful of the powers that be and we’re fearful of what’s running over our world, the Coronavirus.
Good Friday is considered a time of necessary darkness, the Biblical domino that must fall in order for, in a sense, light to return to the world via the resurrection of Christ.
In modern times, the Coronavirus has once again stirred the shadows and affected…everything. “I think everything is right now when it comes to the Christian faith because we miss one another, we miss celebrating and being together,” agrees Joiner.
Our Christian leaders also agree on this: The Coronavirus has given us all an opportunity to change the world.
“At this point in our history,” begins Rev. Joseph Daly of Lafayette’s Episcopal Church of the Ascension, “not only are we realizing that this is a time of anxiety and of compassion as well as understanding and forgiveness; this is something that we’re realizing together as a nation and the world, that the hope that we have is something that even embraces this darkness.”
And if you’re to ask if Good Friday – the death of Christ—is even more important in our Corona World ?
“Here’s the thing,” excitedly explains Treuil, “in everyday life, that’s powerful; in today’s world, in our current situation, it’s that much more powerful.”
