I've been hearing a lot lately about this subject. Has Good Friday lost the penetential feeling from years gone by? Is there just too much to do these days to spend a Friday in prayer and reflection?
In these parts it was not all that uncommon to see many businesses closed for Good Friday so the employees could attend church services. If they did not close they certainly would shut down early before the 3 p.m. Passion and Veneration of the Cross.
When I was a young lad, say growing up in the mid to late sixties, my grandmother made sure me and my sisters had a calm day off from school; no rowdy playing, no TV or radio.
Today I noticed more businesses open. In fact my employer remained open all day; no time off for religious services. In these parts we hear more and more of families and friends throwing big crawfish boils. At least they are not eating meat. Many of these events come complete with beer or other alcohol and take on a huge party atmosphere.
Without being overly judgemental, this just does not seem like the appropriate way to spend the day we recall the death of Jesus. It's not a day to be sad, but certainly a day to reflect profoundly on this ultimate act of love that opened for us the gates of heaven.
For those who spent time today at Church for the afternoon service is it not profound to witness the clergy prostrated on the altar, to hear the Passion once again and to personally verbalize "Crucify Him, Crucify Him? Then what do you feel when you come forward and kiss the cross? How appropriate to receive Communion today, not from the consecration of a Mass, but from a reserved place where the Eucharist has been kept since the end of Holy Thursday night.
Today, Good Friday, is the second day in our walk through the Paschal Triduum. It is the most solemn of these days. We transition to Holy Saturday where we await Jesus, in the tomb, to explode in a pagentry of light and alleluia's.
May we continue to live fully the totality of these special holy days.
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