Today is Good Friday, vendredi saint, and a solemn feast day for those in the Christian world. In Roman Catholicism, I would be expect to fast, refrain from eating meat or have a complete fast and not eat at all. But not only are our bodies bare, but the Church usually is to.
If you have ever been inside a Catholic church, you know they can be ornate settings, draped in cloth, gold and coverings. But walk into one today. If it is anything like the church I grew up in, the altar will be bare. Crosses may be removed or, in the case of a large crucifix that cannot be physically removed, the face of Jesus will be covered in cloth. It is a dark time in the church. Services as limited to the Passion, the Stations of the Cross. Light and bells are not flooded into the Church. The Easter Vigil begins late on Holy Saturday completely in darkness. Candles are the only thing we come into the church with. It is when the light has left the world. Suddenly, His resurrection! Gloria is sung, the lights come on and we all start singing.
Today is somber to celebrate the joy for Sunday. Easter is more than candy, bunnies, eggs and big dinners. It's about family, love, celebrating the Light of the World coming back. Even if you don't recognize Christianity, is there any better thing to celebrate than family? Togetherness? The light?
It's Spring but you would hardly recognize it here. Who knows? Perhaps Easter, when the Light comes flooding back into church, will mark the beginning of Light warming up the Earth.
Have a Happy Weekend...er...Hoppy Weekend!
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