Good Friday

Friday 29th March, 2024

Lent 2024 is the six-week period leading up to Easter. Lent lasts for 40 days because Christ suffered in the desert for 40 days. It starts on Ash Wednesday (14th Feb), a day of reflection and repentance from sin. It’s possible that you may see some people walking around with black cross on their foreheads showing remorse for their sins. Curiosity of this black cross on forehead led me to explore on the Lenten season. There is a sacrifice to be made during the Lent period, so I have given up on blogging. Since I had the goal of one post per week, so I wrote the required number of posts in advance and scheduled published those. The last week of the season is the Holy week (24th March to 31st March). Palm Sunday signifies Jesus’s triumphant return to Jerusalem after spending 40 days and nights in the desert. The significance of palm in the name of this day comes from the palm branches that were placed on the road in anticipation of Jesus’ arrival. Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. Good Friday signifies the day that Jesus was crucified. That, in and of itself, does not sound very good.

This year I had the opportunity to understand and observe what exactly is done on this day at the New City Church. I joined the Good Friday service at noon. Haripriya was volunteering even today. This was my third visit to the church. The setup was not at the regular hall, it was on the opposite side (area where we had breakfast on the church's 10th anniversary). It took me a while to figure out as I had rushed out of office to attend the same (informing my manager ofcourse!). 

It was a quiet environment, everyone in normal attire. I too dressed aptly for the day, had to face questions on this at office. The service started with the pastor briefing on we have gathered here for the liturgical worship to Lord Jesus. The one hour session included four Bible readings elaborating on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and in between the musical prayers on thanking him for all he did. Post the sermons, Aji took over the stage to talk on three reflections. Reflection on struggle and anxiety we go through in everyday life and what can we do overcome those, followed by a musical prayer. Reflection on pretension and being our true self. Reflection on performance as a human being and having complete trust in God. The closure notes and prayer were led by the pastor. We were invited for the Easter Sunday service in our ethnic best. Post the service I had to rush back to office and have lunch with Preethi in cheezzila. This had been postponed for quite a while due credit to work. We had much needed conversation and stomach full lunch.