The Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, has called on Christians worldwide to embody the principles of love and selflessness as they mark Good Friday.
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum.
Archbishop Kaigama advised Nigerians to be optimistic as they go through the current challenges, speaking on the significance of Good Friday.
He said; “Christ died to save us, to free us from sin, his death is a victory over sin, death, Satan amongst others. He came as God, became man to show us that these are necessary aspects of life. And now as a Christian, death is still here, something negative, but we welcome it when it comes and you approach it as a Christian not as pagans who have no faith and thought that death was the end of everything. For us death is a transition from this life to a higher life and so we are grateful to Jesus that he died to save us and we are grateful that he has shown us that in the darkest moment, there is hope, we should never give up in life. That is why as a Christian we are told to rejoice always even when things are bad.”
Also, the Bishop Emeritus Cardinal John Onayeikan spoke on the significance of the day, saying everyone is called to look up to Jesus whose death was for the salvation of humanity.
In his word “there is no aspect of human life that is not touched by our religion, even dying is not as if it is an unfortunate accident no, it is part of God’s plan that you live, pass stages of life and die innocently. So we must be part of project and programme of Jesus even when you are suffering, it’s not in vain, just be ready to live your life as a mission given to you by God.”
On the his message to Nigerians in relation to challenges, Bishop Onayekan on the context of Good Friday further said “relax, Jesus has a way of balancing an equation which at present looks really bad sided, you know that by the time God steps in and the final reckoning is taken, everything will fall in place and we will be able to see that God has the final say. It is good to live one’s life with this conviction.”
He said; “It is also the tradition of the universal church to engage in the ceremonies which vividly bring the remembrance of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“Today is less a joyful day as it is set aside for fasting, abstinence and veneration of the Cross with genuflection, which is the central theme of Good Friday.”
VON