GOOD FRIDAY

Greater attention by Christians and non Christians alike will undoubtedly be paid to this year’s Good Friday, celebrated today, than has been paid to any other Good Friday in living memory, as a result of Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ which details the final 12 hours of Jesus leading up to his crucifixion. For Christians, regardless of whether or not their interest has been spurred on by The Passion of the Christ, today remains one of the most significant days in their religion’s calendar signifying as it does the commemorating of the crucifixion. In turn, many who in previous years had regularly skipped Good Friday observances in churches in Trinidad and Tobago and around the world will perhaps attend either church services or “Way of the Cross” services today.

In Port-of-Spain many Catholics will walk up the several Calvary Hills in their districts, pausing as they go along at the different Stations of the Cross. Meanwhile, in San Fernando, parishioners of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Good Hope, along with Christians of other churches, will walk in procession to the top of San Fernando Hill stopping as those proceeding on Calvary Hill at the various Stations of the Cross. Unfortunately, in many countries Christians may have difficulty in attending services today because of the level of violence and/or threatened violence aimed at Governments. For example, Spain where more than 200 commuters travelling by train were killed and more than 1,200 injured by explosives planted by terrorists recently is still in a state of discomfort this Good Friday.

Ironically, in the place where Jesus was born, Jerusalem, a truce has had to be arranged every year to allow for the safety of foreign visitors to the spot where Jesus is reputed to have been born in a manger. This year with terror alerts being triggered in Middle East countries, including Israel, Jerusalem, Israel’s most famous city, may not be regarded as a safe spot for Christian tourists. In fact nowhere can be regarded as being safe on this Good Friday as so many parts of the world are virtually at war. Today marks the start of a long holiday weekend which we hope will be a spiritual and peaceful one for all our readers.