Feria VI

Early this morning I set out down the street to my local Shoppers Mart to get some laundry soap.
I knew they wouldn't open until 8 so instead of turning left at the end of the street I turned right and made my way into the coffee shop.  The gal behind the counter smiled and said "good morning" to which I smiled back and replied, "morning",  "let me have my coffee first and then I will tell you if it is a good morning."
After drinking the first coffee I ordered a second for takeout and told her I could indeed say "good" now.
As you can access, I was basing my day on a beverage or in this case the caffiene which I felt I needed in order to make my day.


This past Friday was Good Friday.
My husband was chatting and asked, "why is this day called good?"
I suppose my quick answer, provoked by my own Christian beliefs would be, "you know, it because of Christ's death and subsequent resurrection."
Nothing like stating the obvious.  And, while my dear husband  may not hold a degree in Christian studies he has read the scriptures, like myself, like most people.
But after some meditation, my own thoughts ask "why" as well.
After a little research on the world wide web, I clearly see that we are not alone in wondering why this particular day in this season of Easter is referred to as good.
A writer for About.com, for Christianity put the very same question out there and here are some of the answers.
The Perfect Sacrifice
He died for our sins.
The Ultimate Act of Love
God's Provision
The Best Day
Because we are Alive
Good to All
Christ Became Sin for the World

Good Friday falls within Holy Week.  For some this holds a deep depth of feeling commemoratiing the anniversay of Christ's crucifixion, death & resurrection.
And, for some it simply represents a long weekend.
Eastern churches refer to this day as "the Great Friday"  After reading the above statements in relation to this yearly anniversary I am in agreement and this title resonates well within me.
Other ideas estimate that good Friday could of possible come from "God's Friday".
Needless to say, the world over (for the most part) considers this "good Friday" and as such have their own way of defining how they will treat the day.
In Jerusalem, Christians converge on the Temple of the Sepulcher.  Catholics will abstain from eating meat.
We had a dinner engagement last evening and instead of the token turkey dinner we had Pakistani curry ordering it from our favorite restaurant.  Upon picking up our order the owner of the restaurant questioned our order of meat, adding to our order a vegetarian curry because he was confused. As he put it, he didn't know "what brand of Christian we were"  as his Spanish, Catholic employee was sitting down to a lunch of  "peas & potato", a vegetarian curry.
To each their own.
But really, it isn't that simple.  I suppose each religion supports this particular week with various observances but it doesn't really answer the question.
Earlier in another writing I mentioned that people observe Lent by the giving up of something, that something usually being chocolate.  Maybe this is done in relation to the worldly view of handing out Easter eggs, I am not entirely sure.  Good, or a good thing...maybe, possibly?  I assume this is really a question of the heart.
This too leaves me wondering about each individuals definition of the word "good" in application to their own personal life.
I suppose that in conclusion, going with my own understanding of what these three or four days or 40 days represent,  I would cast my vote for "Great Friday".

Whereas a great cup of coffee in the morning may indeed be a "good thing", it is in no way a just comparison for a "great day" in which the deliberate, faithful, sobering choice of one man for many is affectionately commemorated year after year.
Wishing all a "great Easter!"