In my Catholic faith, we commemorate Jesus' passion and death today. Good Friday.

Have you seen the movie The Passion of the Christ? It's controversial. It's bloody. It's horrific. At every whip, splatter of blood, Christ's cry in pain and tears in Mother Mary's eyes, I could feel my heart crushing.

And I find myself asking God, "Why me, Lord?"

Why did you allow Yourself to go through all those pain and suffering to save someone like me?

For all the sins I've committed, I deserve such punishment. But, not You.

When I think about it, it makes me wonder why we call this day Good Friday. There wasn't good from what Jesus went through that day.

That one movie's title is more fitting. Today is a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day.

I watched today's The 7 Last Words Good Friday presentation by The Light of Jesus Family.

And this is what I've learned.

Good Friday

It may seem for Jesus' enemies that He was defeated effortlessly today. He did not resist arrest. He allowed the mob to mock him. He didn't fight the soldiers. He didn't flee. He didn't perform any mind-blowing miracle to show off His power and glory.

He was seized, scourged and persecuted like a common criminal.

What's good about Good Friday?

It's good because on this day, God manifested His great love. That while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)


It's good because God sent Jesus to bridge the gap between us and Him that was brought about by our sinful ways.

It's good because Jesus showed us the best example of humility, obedience to the Father, surrender and faith.

It's good because in Jesus' human form, He exhibited remarkable courage. That while He was praying at the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was in such agony and fear that He sweat blood.

Scientifically speaking, hematidrosis or sweating blood generally happens when a person feels intense fear or stress.

Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that soldiers sweat blood before battle.

This gives me hope. That even when situations get extremely scary, I can carry on knowing that God's is with me and His will

I just need to pray and surrender.

Good Friday is still good maybe not while it's happening, but because of the promised victory that comes after it.


It may feel like we're defeated by the enemy, but the final battle is not over yet.

We have this saying in Filipino, "Ang bida ng pagpapabugbog sa simula."

The protagonist of the story---the hero---makes it look like the bad guys are winning at the start.

Plot twist! He wins in the end.

In our lives, many times it seems the enemy is winning. Good Friday is proof that suffering and setbacks happen. But it is only a set up for our success.


Plot twist: God always wins.

Ah, what a beautiful thought to carry in our hearts.

Good Friday is a really, really REALLY good day.

Your turn

What is your Good Friday reflection?