Br Jordan Albert Paul, OCS

Therefore will I distribute. Here he sets out the fourth, namely his victory over his enemies. . . . Third, the salvation of those made subject to him: for he does not subject them to himself like a tyrant to abuse them, but to save them: and he has borne, taken away, the sins of many, efficaciously, although sufficiently of all, and has prayed for the transgressors: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).
—St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree”— that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
—Galatians 3:13-14

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
—Romans 5:19

Friends,

One Holy Week when I was in early elementary school, my mom picked me up early from school (probably to go to Disneyland?) and the secretary made a comment about Good Friday. Growing up in a nonreligious household, I confusingly commented to my mom that every Friday is a good Friday. It was only later—in my new atheist phase—that I thought the name was ridiculous. But here we are, and the theological definition does indeed win out in goodness.

Good Friday is the most solemn day on the Christian calendar. Christ, while fully human, is not solely human, so the effect of his death is not limited to just human ones. It is through this death—a “full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction”—that we are not crushed by the intolerable effects of our sins. It is through this death that we are brought into a right relationship with God and have the spoils of Christ’s conquest of death—eternal life—divided amongst his faithful people, enough for all who cling to him in earnest and faithful repentance.

Unlike the earliest disciples, we have the benefit of seeing this whole picture. And we know the mourning only lasts until Sunday. Truly, “[t]he light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

In Christ,

—Br Jordan Albert, OCS