BY JASMINE BADUN
KUCHING: Christians here are grateful that they are able to attend the sacred day of Good Friday physically in churches this year.
As compared to 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the state, masses and services were done via live streams including the important days in the Christian calendar.
Good Friday is the day when Christians commemorate the day Jesus was crucified on the cross at Calvary.
Such a dark event is considered a solemn event as Jesus sacrificed himself for the sins of the world.
On this sacred day, the altars are left bare with no flowers, pictures and crucifixes covered in veils, mourning for the death of Jesus.
Traditionally, churches will start Good Friday services from noon to 3 pm to commemorate the hour Jesus was crucified on the cross.
On the significant day, the events of Good Friday are commemorated in the stations of the cross, a total of 14 stations altogether leading up to the moment of Jesus’ crucifixion, with some churches doing re-enactments of the crucifixion.
Christians mark the first day of Lent with Ash Wednesday last month (Mar 2) and begin fasting for 40 days especially abstinence, to prepare for Easter (Apr 17).
As the country transitions into the endemic phase, churchgoers are pleased that they can attend church services by walk-in.
Trisha Celine, who goes to St Ann Catholic Church in Kota Padawan, is very happy and lucky to be able to finally attend Good Friday Mass physically.
The 24-year-old said due to online church services, she could not receive Holy Communion and that made her sad.
“I felt great sadness but although I’m sad, I’m still grateful as we at least can still attend it via online streaming.”
The pandemic also forced 24-year-old Rose Ida to celebrate Good Friday alone in Johor Bahru as she could not go back to Sarawak in 2020.
Describing her Good Friday experience in another state as “quite strange”, she explained that as everything around her was different, she was reminded of the Bible verse, Matthew 18:20;
“When two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
According to her, the verse made her able to adapt well to another state.
Being far away from home did not stop her from joining various Christian programmes in Peninsular Malaysia.
She used to be the president of the Christian Students Fellowship (CSF) at Institut Latihan Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia Johor Bahru (ILKKM).
Rose, who is also a Catholic from Singai, Bau, said she expects more people to attend church, “especially the children and youth to help them grow in their relationship with the Lord which prepares them to serve Christ in all they do.”
“As a result, this nurtures the congregation and allows the church to flourish.”
Fortunately, the following year, she managed to celebrate the big day with her family although it was just online.
“At this moment, I do not have any problem attending the online church services even though the internet connection is sometimes slow.”
When asked about what Good Friday meant to her, she said, “it is a time to withdraw ourselves from this fanatic world and to reflect upon the love of our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”
“We might not realise this every moment in our lives but Good Friday reminds us to.
“It is the time to ask ourselves if God has the time, and even life (which He sacrificed for us), can we spare some time for him? To have conversations with Him.
“To simply praise Him for all His blessings on us, and to entrust our bad and good times to Him,” she added.
Christians can choose to fast in various ways, to which Rose opts to fast in the forms of her speech, trying not to be boastful or hurt others’ feelings, less usage of social media because it could lead her to be unforgiving and ungrateful.
Other than that, she will make time to pray such as for personal prayers, rosary payers, Divine Mercy prayers and serve in churches wherever she is at.
She also abstains from eating meat, especially on Friday.
“Unforgettably, the almsgiving, by contributing what I can to help the needy,” said Rose.
Fasting is not easy, but Rose feels blessed and contented when she can achieve her goals during Lent because she is fervently confident that God loves her small efforts.
Saying the challenges of fasting came from within, she stated she is weak without God’s guidance.
“That is the only greatest challenge I endure, dealing with my human desires.”
Rose also was scheduled to become the commentator during the service at St. Henry’s Church, Apar in Singai, Bau.
“I appreciate every moment I spend with my family since I had been living far away from them.”
She is happy she can celebrate the significant day with her family members in the church this year.
