"Why is it 'Good' Friday?"
A sermon the Rev. Dr. David A. Killian, Rector
All Saint Parish
Brookline, Massachusetts
Easter Day
April 16, 2006
Text: Mark 16: 1-8
I
A parishioner told me of a conversation she had with her son, who asked her, "Why is Good Friday called Good ?" She didn't know the answer, so she asked me. It is good question. What is "good" about an innocent man being arrested in the middle of the night; betrayed by one of disciples, Judas; denied by another, Peter; accused falsely by the chief priests; mocked and scourged by soldiers; and condemned to death by the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate? What is "good" about crucifixion as a criminal and being scorned and mocked in one's dying hours? What is "good" about the crown of thorns on his head, the nails in his hands and feet? Yes, this is a good question, Why is Good Friday called Good ?
Well, it wouldn't be good if Jesus were just one more innocent victim in history's long list of innocent victims who were arrested, tortured, and unjustly put to death. If Jesus were just another innocent victim, then this Friday should called Evil Friday, Bad Friday, Horrible Friday, Depraved Friday. So, why is it Good Friday?
For the disciples and Mary Magdalene, it was still very much Bad Friday until Mary went to the tomb on the first Easter morning. For three days they were sunk in the gloom of Bad Friday. Now, on Sunday morning Mary goes to the tomb and finds that it is empty. She and the disciples come to see that miraculously, wondrously, God has transformed the worst day of their lives into something good.
The feast we celebrate today -- the greatest feast of the entire Christian year -- is the feast of transforming Bad Friday into Easter Sunday. And because of Easter, Bad Friday becomes Good. With their Easter awareness, Mary and the disciples see even in Friday the power of God's love, forgiveness, and faithfulness. Love: in his dying moments, Jesus entrusts his mother to his beloved disciple and entrusts his beloved disciple to his mother. Forgiveness: from the cross, Jesus says, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." Faithfulness: in the last free decision of his life, Jesus remains faithful: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."
This is why we call Friday "good" -- because God took the treachery, cruelty, and injustice of the crucifixion and transformed it into an expression of love, forgiveness and faithfulness. God triumphs in Jesus. The tables are turned. What was bleak and hopeless on Friday is transformed on Easter Sunday. Mary goes to the tomb thinking it is still "Bad Friday." Her thoughts are still on Jesus' crucifixion. But the tomb is empty. Jesus is risen and because of his Resurrection, she sees that God did not abandon Jesus and that God was with Jesus through it all.
II
When I look at the world I see many "Bad Fridays." Three weeks ago, I saw thousands of Bad Fridays in the Gulf Coast homes and businesses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. I saw neighborhoods that were flooded by twenty- feet high waves. In East Biloxi, Mississippi, where I was working with other volunteers from our diocese, two thirds of the homes are gone. Those that are left are just shells. They need roofs and walls, bathrooms, kitchens, not to mention furniture, beds and appliances that we all take for granted. Each lost home is a Bad Friday for that family. There are thousands of lost homes and thousands of bad Fridays. That is the bad news.
The good news is that hundreds of volunteers from all over the country are assisting in the rebuilding effort. Each home that is rebuilt is like Easter. God is in Mississippi transforming thousands of Bad Fridays into thousands of Easter Sundays, one home at a time. God is at work.
I was part of a crew rebuilding the home of Arlene Blanchard, a retired lady who lives with her brother in a trailer provided by FEMA in her back yard. A group of Presbyterian volunteers from Oklahoma installed a new roof on her home. A group of Methodists from Tennessee cleaned and disinfected the inside of her house and put up new wall board. Now we Episcopalians from Massachusetts were plastering the wallboard, sanding, and putting on a primer coat of paint. Very few of us were master carpenters or plasterers or painters; this is just proof that God can use imperfect instruments to accomplish great things. Ms. Blanchard was profoundly grateful for all that we could do because she doesn't have the money to pay for this herself. We didn't finish the job that week, but our work was getting her closer to moving back into her home. Next week a group of Lutherans from Minnesota will finish the painting. And it isn't just Christians who are volunteering. There are Jewish students from Hillel, Buddhist volunteers, and many of the supplies are paid for by Islamic Charities from Saudi Arabia. Yes, there are thousands of Bad Fridays on the Gulf Coast, but Easter is on it way. God invites us to be a part of turning these Bad Fridays into Easter Sundays.
III
This week there was a "Bad Friday" turned into an Easter Sunday in the Suffolk County Superior Court. Did you see the story in the newspaper? Three years ago, a five-year old girl, Kai Leigh Harriott, was shot in the back by a stray bullet that nearly paralyzed her. That was her Bad Friday. But, do you know what that little girl said to the man who unintentionally shot her? She said, "What you done to me is wrong." But then she added, "But I still forgive him." Can you believe it? She said, "I still forgive him." What did Jesus say from the cross? "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." In the Suffolk Superior Court, the man who shot her apologized to Kai and her mother:" I'm sorry for what I've done to you and your family." Kai's mother asked if she could approach the accused. She was given permission and she shook his hand and hugged him.
Yes, the shooting of Kai was a "Bad Friday," but Kai and her mother turned it into an Easter Sunday. They point the way -- as Mary Magdalene does in today's Gospel. What are the Bad Fridays of your life? We all have Bad Fridays. For most of us, thankfully, our losses are not as bad as the people on the Gulf Coast or as bad as Kai Leigh Harriott, who is nearly paralyzed. Our Bad Fridays may seem trivial compared to these losses. Whatever our troubles or worries, today is a great day of triumph and hope. God, who raised Jesus from the dead, can also turn our bad Fridays into Easter Sundays. And for this we say, Alleluia.
Amen.