The term ‘Good Friday’ evokes different though related meanings in terms of faith as well as our recent history.
As a former chaplain, I recall being part of an ecumenical act of worship on a Good Friday, where individuals from diverse church backgrounds gathered in a prison chapel to remember Christ’s death and were able to find something special in the message of the Cross.
Amidst the burdens of the past – the result of personal choices as well as the actions of others – people spoke of finding the ‘good’ in Good Friday to be a powerful testament to the transformative nature of love; a love that originates with God, is revealed in Christ and that holds the potential to heal even the deepest wounds.
The essence of Good Friday lies not in the sufferings endured but in the unwavering belief that love triumphs over hatred and that light will always pierce through darkness.
It is a day that challenges us to embrace forgiveness, extend compassion, and embrace the possibility of new beginnings.
Venerable Paul Thompson,
Archdeacon of Clogher
