Good Friday: A day to remember those facing injustice, oppression

Juan Carlos Rosas, performs as Jesus Christ during a Good Friday re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ, with other parishioners of St. Bernard Catholic Church, during a Good Friday procession to commemorate the Stations of the Cross in Riverdale, Md. on Friday, April 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

LOS ANGELES – Tomorrow is Good Friday, when Christians solemnly commemorate the day Jesus suffered and died on the cross.

In some churches, a wooden cross is set up and people spend time meditating before it. Other people make the Stations of the Cross, a devotion that recalls the journey of Jesus on the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) in Jerusalem to Calvary, where he was crucified.

Many Christians keep this devotion but also see in the suffering of Jesus a reminder to be more concerned for the suffering of people in today’s world – those facing injustice and oppression. For many Christians, Good Friday is also a day of fasting and penance.

Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez will preside at the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels at noon.

During the solemn liturgy, the Lord’s passion from the Gospel of John will be proclaimed and a special prayer will be dedicated to the catechumens or brothers and sisters who will be baptized and welcomed into the church on Easter Vigil. As in previous years, the faithful will have an opportunity to venerate the cross.

The service will be livestreamed via Facebook and YouTube.

There will be a Good Friday concert offered by the Episcopalian Church to help center the faithful spiritually for the holy day that marks Jesus’ death on the cross.

The concert of sacred music, hosted by Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Norfolk, in the Diocese of Southern Virginia, will be available to view at 3 p.m. Eastern March 29 on The Episcopal Church’s online platforms.

“Every human child of God – Palestinian, Israeli, Iraqi, Cypriot, Lebanese, everyone – deserves safety and security,” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said in his Lenten message, in which he encouraged Episcopalians to give to the Good Friday Offering.

“As we mark our Lord’s passion and death on Good Friday, we remember those whom he loves facing injustice and oppression today, and remember the urgency of love – true, sacrificial love.”