We call the Friday on which we commemorate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary by death on the Cross, as Good Friday. When we consider the unspeakable horror, the unbelievable brutality, the unmitigated injustice, the unbearable ignominy and the unutterable evil that was at work on that dark, dreadful and desolate day, the label “good” seems a crude, cruel and callous irony.
But, when we consider the infinite love, the unlimited goodness, the enormous compassion, the unreserved mercy and the unconditional forgiveness which the Cross of Jesus symbolises, then, the word “good” is a perfect fit for this day of all days.
For, here on the Cross of Calvary, the humankind has finally found a way out of its dreadful dungeon of darkness, death, decay, degradation and despair. Here, on the Cross, our God, in Jesus Christ, has taken upon Himself our pain, our suffering and our slavery to evil and has won a decisive and irrevocable victory over sin, evil and death.
Here, on the Cross of Jesus Christ, we behold a God who is so deeply and fully moved with compassion for us that He has become completely one with us in our misery, loss and grief.
He is a God who has said: “I have seen the sufferings of my people. Their cry of anguish has reached my ears. I am moved with compassion for them. So, I am determined to save them.”
And we see what an enormous price God pays for the redemption and salvation of humankind. That is why Good Friday is really the GOOD Friday!
Because it is really a “good” Friday, it evokes immense gratitude and love for God in our heart rather than guilt or fear. Our devotion is marked by reflection, gratitude and the profound sacrifice of Jesus Christ, offering hope, peace and spiritual renewal.
These devotions and rituals emphasise divine love, forgiveness and the sombre sobriety and solemnity of the day, serving as a reminder of redemption and strength for loved ones. The love of Christ fills our heart with peace, hope and gratitude on this holy day, a day filled with reflection and gratitude as we remember His sacrifice, bringing us hope, healing and a renewed spirit.
Therefore, we take a moment to reflect on the immense love that was shown on the Cross. That light of the Lord’s love shines upon us and guides our path. We leave our burdens at the Cross and praise our heavenly Father. Good Friday reminds us of the power of forgiveness and the depth of divine love. We find strength as we look to what was done on the Cross.
The sacrifice of Jesus inspires us to live a life of kindness and compassion. Reflecting on the sacrifice and thanking God for His grace, we have a blessed and peaceful Good Friday. The Cross brings us peace and the resurrection brings us hope.
Peace and hope have become precious and perilously perishing commodities in our days when the terrible tragedy of a senseless war and destruction, murder and mayhem, violence and vengeance, born of pride and prejudice, avarice and greed is literally raining hell-fire on the innocent and the helpless, the weak and the meek.
And it is an unmitigated abomination that this unbridled violence has been let loose by people who swear by the God of the Bible, who is in fact a God of compassion and mercy, and worst still, by those who call themselves the followers of Christ Crucified who suffered and died in order to set us free from the slavery of greed, lust and pride and stood for fraternity, justice, reconciliation, forgiveness, truth, non-violence and peace.
Many years ago that great apostle of Truth and Non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that whenever he contemplated the crucified Christ, he saw all the world’s suppressed nations and races nailed to the Cross together with Christ.
Today, on this Good Friday, as we contemplate Christ on His Cross we too see millions of poor, innocent and helpless people who are being deprived of their basic human rights to life, livelihood, liberty and dignity, and, instead, being subjected to unimaginable horrors of bombings, attacks, violence and bloodshed.
In the face of this impenetrable darkness and untold misery, we still believe that there is hope, because the Cross reminds us that no matter what, we are deeply loved.
In His death, we find life. In His pain, we find healing. In His despair, we find hope. Therefore, Good Friday is a day of hope. May the grace of God be with you on this Good Friday. May it bring peace to your heart and joy to your life.
—Most Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of Mysuru
This post was published on April 3, 2026 6:05 pm