Good Friday

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, we are looking at the light itself, and we are looking at the single most dramatic, earth-shattering moment in human history.

Today, you'll walk into your church, but instead of the usual sights and sounds, the candles, the smell of incense, the bells ringing, instead, it's empty. The tabernacle is open and bare. The altar is stripped. There is no music. There is no mass. Why? Because today is the day we remember the agonizing cost of man's salvation. This is the most solemn day of the church year. Good Friday.

The story we have today isn't just about what happened 2,000 years ago. It's about what happens right now, today, in the middle of the afternoon. Have you ever noticed that on Good Friday, the main service isn't usually in the morning? It typically takes place in the middle of the day, generally at 3 p.m.

Why 3 p.m.? This is the specific hour when Jesus, hanging on the cross, surrendered his spirit to the Father and died. Imagine the scene. For hours, the sky has been darkening. The crowds have been shouting. And then, at three o'clock, silence. The Savior is gone.

When you go to the Good Friday service today, first, you will hear a story, but not just a short reading. The passion narrative is read in full. We hear the entire account of the trial, the suffering, and the death. We let the words wash over us, so we don't forget what happened.

Second is the adoration of the Holy Cross. Usually, the cross is a symbol of torture. It was the electric chair of the ancient world. But on this day, the faithful, that's us, come forward to venerate the cross. We kiss the wood or bow before it. Why would we venerate a tool of execution? Because we are remembering how our salvation was won. That wood isn't just wood anymore. It's the instrument of love.

Finally, we receive the Holy Eucharist. The hosts used on Good Friday were actually consecrated the night before, placed in repose on Holy Thursday. It's like a connection through time, bridging the Last Supper to the moment of death. It's easy to skip over the hard stuff and go straight to Easter Sunday with the candy and the eggs, but you can't have the resurrection without the cross. Good Friday is a day of required fasting and abstinence from meat. We fast to unite ourselves with our Lord's suffering.

When your stomach growls today, or when you crave that burger but choose fish or vegetables instead, use that tiny bit of discomfort to remember the massive suffering Jesus felt for you. When the clock strikes 3 p.m. this afternoon, I want you to stop. Just for a minute. Put down your phone. Pause your video game. Stop talking. Remember that at this exact time, Jesus surrendered his spirit. If you can, go to the service. Venerate the cross. But if you are at school or home, just take that moment of silence.

Unite yourself with his suffering, and remember the price that was paid for you. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.