A GOOD FRIDAY STORY

After spending last Thursday at Saints Vartanantz Church in Providence, Rhode Island, on Good Friday I continued my weeklong journey to our New England churches, heading to North Andover, Massachusetts. As soon as I left the hotel and walked toward the garage, the lady who was in charge, noticing my collar, welcomed me with a warm greeting and said, “Father, I hope you had a nice rest.” My response was likewise cordial, and I wished her a pleasant Holy Week and most especially a Joyous Easter. Suddenly, I felt uncomfortable when she paused and I read a very sad expression on her face. She told me that she had lost her faith, and for the last couple of years she had not attended church because of what had happened to one of her family members.  

I felt embarrassed for causing this awkward situation. I thought that instead of wishing her a good Holy Week, I could just thank her and leave the place. Nevertheless, I took the courage to continue our conversation and share her distress. I realized that her heart was bleeding for what had happened but, moreover, for losing her faith and distancing herself from God’s House. 

By acknowledging the gravity of her grief, I tried to bring her out of the valley of sorrow through which she has been walking all these years. I shared several bitter experiences and told her that we must look at Him, who, on the Cross, taught us what seems to be impossible: forgiving and praying. Then I added that just as Simon of Cyrene came to help Jesus in carrying the Cross (Mark 15:21), the Holy Virgin Mary, whose heart was pierced with a sword as prophesied by Simon the Aged (Luke 2:35), may help us to carry our own cross, no matter how heavy and sad. I wished her to commit her ever-suffering pain to Mother Mary, the Lady of Sorrows par excellence. Afterwards, I handed her a small bottle of holy oil, which was blessed during the Washing of Feet service, and asked her to make the sign of the cross with it over her heart to welcome the joy of renewed life in Risen Lord on Easter Sunday at her Church.  

The lady, overwhelmed by the outpouring and sincere intention to recover her spiritual health, asked me if she could give me a hug. I felt so gratified noticing in her tearful eyes the rays of restored faith. 

Yes, my dear brothers and sisters, our Christian faith is not only worshipping the Almighty heavenly Father, but also bringing the Good News of His Only Begotten Son to the lives of those who are burdened under the heavy yoke of frustration, hopelessness, and loneliness. They need someone to share the abyss of their distress, to listen to them, to pray for them, and to rejoice with them in the Life Giver, our Lord Jesus Christ.