Good Friday

Dear Diary,

Woke up early today for Good Friday service. Only one of my sisters was going with me. The rest were still soundly asleep at 7.50am. I lumbered to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and washed my face. By 8am, I was all ready to leave the house with a quick brush of my hair. My sister who woke up much earlier, was still fumbling over make-up kits, contact lenses and what-have-you… Think she had her third change of clothes and not satisfied? My deadline for her went from 8.10am to 8.15am to 8.20am… and off we went for the service. Hopped into the car and drove off to Saint Andrew’s Cathedral. Was puzzled that the Catholic Church beside my house was deserted. Maybe they had the midnight Mass early this morning.

Love the church calendar and liturgical vestments of the priest. The priest wore the solemn black stole over his neck, which contrasted with his white priestly robe. The atmosphere was understandably solemn as I saw the wooden cross erected in front of the altar which was already stripped off its cover. The service went on in passage readings from the gospel of Saint Matthew 26:36 – 27:32. The priest led in the reflections of each passage and with hymns. However, the thing that struck me most is the hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”…

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Just by singing this hymn, I am reminded of Christ Jesus’ sacrifice for me and the love of God to be reconciled with us. As fourth stanza states, even if I owned the whole world and gave it to God, it would never match the price he paid for me on the cross. Such love that draws me to trust my soul, my life and my all in His hands. Good Friday.

God Bless,

Andrew