Good Friday

It is a Lakefield tradition that the village’s Christian community comes together on Good Friday for the Walk of the Cross, followed by an ecumenical service at one of Lakefield’s churches. St John’s was honoured to host this year’s service. Below is Rev. John’s homily.

It is indeed a privilege to welcome you all to St. John’s this morning, on this holy day. I’m the new guy on the block and have not attended one of these services before but my Ministerial pals told me that the service should follow what we Anglicans would normally do on Good Friday. I believe Chris even said, “It’s home field advantage.” So thank you. Thank you all for being here this morning and allowing “us to be us” as we gather together today. 

An Anglican Good Friday service is a continuation from the service we had last night. Last night, at our Maundy Thursday service, I followed the model of Christ and washed the feet of my parishioners as a reminder of my service to them and to God in Christ. I then consecrated the bread and wine that we will share as reserved sacrament today. I feel that it is indeed a blessing for us to come together, from all of our different communities, to share at this Eucharistic table as one family in Christ. What an awesome symbol and act of unity. Please know that everyone here is welcome to come up and receive the sacrament, should you wish to do so.

As we gather here today, we find ourselves reflecting on one of the most profound and somber moments in Christian history — the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ. The Gospel reading I just read, from John 19:31-42 paints a vivid picture of those final moments and the immediate aftermath.

The passage tells us about the loving, gentle, and kind care taken by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus in burying Jesus. Joseph and Nicodemus are an interesting duo. Both were prominent Jewish leaders yet they came forward, in spite of the risk they were taking and fear they must have been feeling, to ensure that Jesus received a proper burial. This act of courage and devotion is profoundly significant.

Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin, and a leader of the Jewish council. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish Ruling council. Despite being a part of groups that were generally opposed to Jesus, these two men demonstrated extraordinary courage, faith, and reverence for Christ. They broke away from the expectations and pressures of their positions and defined belief systems, to quietly follow Jesus and to honor Him in His death at great risk of peril to themselves.  

Good Friday reminds us of the depth of God's love for humanity, a love so great that He gave His only Son for our salvation. As we look upon the cross, we see the ultimate sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. In this reading, we also see the response of faithful followers — a response of reverence, compassion, boldness, and courage.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus show us that true faith can flourish even in the most unlikely places - the ruling class of Pharisees. Their actions challenge us to reflect on our own lives. Are we willing to step forward with the same courage and devotion in our faith? Are we ready to serve and honor Christ, even when it may come at a personal cost? Are we prepared to cross our religious boundaries to serve that which we believe is God’s will, to the best of our ability?

Today, as we contemplate the immense suffering and sacrifice of Jesus, let us also remember the hope and promise that lie beyond the tomb. Good Friday may be a day of mourning, but it is also a prelude to the joy and victory of the Resurrection that we know is coming. Our journey as Christians is not to the cross, but through the cross.

In this ecumenical gathering we are brought together by our shared faith in Jesus.  Let us unite in that shared belief, let us find strength in the sameness of our faith. May the cross we carried for Jesus today bring us together and empower us to be beacons of hope, not just to other believers, but to those who may be lost, lonely and in despair. Our world has enough division and derision these days. Let us stand together, today and every day, against such disparity - as one Christian family.

I pray that our unity in Christ gives us the shared strength to love and care for our fractured world.  

The collaborative efforts of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus— a couple of elite ruling Pharisees — reminds us that our diverse backgrounds and traditions can come together in the common cause of honoring Christ. May their example inspire us to live out our faith with boldness, courage, and compassion, recognizing that through Christ's sacrifice, we are all brought closer to God and to one another.

Amen.