Today is Good Friday. It is day in commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago.
The day is to remember the crucification and death of Christ on Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the the Friday preceding Easter Sunday.
The day which is also known as Holy Friday will be marked for the first time in Church history without the usual congregation, camp meetings, Conventions following the lockdown measures implemented by governments worldwide to limit the spread of COVID-19.
However, the Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, says the essence of the 2020 Easter festivities remains the same and richer, in spite of the contagious novel coronavirus, which is changing the nature of church liturgies.
He explained that Easter and all Christian celebrations were best observed spiritually in the heart, “hence the season does not lose its power without the usual outdoor activities”.
He stressed that the lockdown mode, therefore, was a better way for Christians to “come individually before the throne of grace to worship”.
In a message to mark the Easter festivity, Rev Boafo, who is also the Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), reiterated that Easter was all about Jesus Christ “who is risen from the dead”.
“Easter is a real celebration of the Risen Lord and what makes this season worth celebrating is the fact that Jesus who was declared dead after the crucifixion on Good Friday was raised on the third day,” he explained.
Good Friday is commemorated to appreciate the atoning crucifixion death of Christ Jesus to reconcile the sinful man with God.
“Easter is no doubt the high day in the cycle of Christian worship. But it is not the specific day of celebration that brings Christians together but Jesus Christ who gathers us unto Himself,” he said.
In the lifetime of many Christians today, this season is going to be different with the clergy using mainly online and traditional media to reach families and smaller groups, in social distancing protocols, with their messages of repentance, forgiveness, salvation, reconciliation and love..
“The resurrection of Christ gives hope and dignity where there is deprivation and exclusion, hunger and hopelessness”.
He said the state of death, solitude, hopelessness and fear, which seemed to be the portion of humanity these days of the Coronavirus pandemic could not be the last word in the season.
“There is a word that transcends them, a word that only God can speak: He is risen. By the power of God’s love, these words dispel all the negatives we are living with today
“The message of Easter brings humanity to experience anew the God of life. Death and its powers are conquered by the risen Christ”.
He, therefore, urged the faith community to strengthen their faith and to remind the world of the risen Christ who was able to cast fears away and grant hope.
“He will rescue his people for His Name’s sake. The God of our fathers is still with us as a people,” he assured.
