The calendar tells me that today is Good Friday. With the world in its current situation, it might be easy to ask the question, "What's so good about it?" With more and more people across the globe getting sick and far too many losing their lives to this terrible, vicious disease, one might be justified in taking a pessimistic view of the world and the current situation.
There was another Friday, about 2,000 years ago when everything looked rather bleak for a group of people, just as it does for some today. For this group, they had seen the one in whom they had placed all their hopes and dreams, nailed to a post and executed in the most horrific and tortuous manner known at the time. I can scarcely imagine the level of fear and despair these folks felt on that Friday afternoon. Just as I can only imagine the level of sorrow that many are feeling at this time. Little did those followers of this man 2,000 years ago know, that Friday was hardly the end of the story.
Several years ago, I heard the inspirational message from Tony Campolo entitled "That was Friday, Sunday's coming." In this message, Campolo recalls a sermon he heard once about the hope that comes with Easter morning, following the pain and despair of Good Friday. Those followers of Jesus 2,000 years ago had no idea that a mere two days later, the one in whom they believed justified their belief by conquering death and rising from the tomb. Today, I am reminded of that message. I'm not saying that by Sunday morning everything will be okay and back to normal. What I am saying is that even in the difficult times we are currently experiencing, there is a good reason to have hope for a better day. Today may be Friday, but Sunday's coming.
During this Easter weekend, and beyond, please keep the faith, be kind to one another and wash your hands. There IS a better day coming, here on the sunny side.