Fr William Horo
(frwilliamhoro@gmail.com)
On April 1, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to
the nation on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr, expressing hopes for a society filled with hope, harmony and kindness. In a message shared on his social media account, he wrote, “Greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this festival enhance the spirit of hope, harmony and kindness in our society. May there be joy and success in all your endeavours! Eid Mubarak!”
What struck me most in his message was the profound emphasis on the spirit of hope in our society. Hope is an essential force in life; without it, one is as good as lifeless. The Bible beautifully illustrates hope through the image of a tree planted by a riverbank, whose leaves remain green even during summer’s heat – a symbol of resilience and vitality. Conversely, the Bible describes a man devoid of hope as akin to a grave filled with lifeless bones, emphasising the emptiness that accompanies despair.
Pope Francis, a beacon of hope in today’s world, describes hope as a divine gift. He urges people to look to the future with optimism, even amidst challenges, and to actively work towards creating a more just and peaceful society. His message resonates deeply, reminding us that hope is not merely wishful thinking but a powerful foundation for action and transformation. It enables us to endure hardships and envision brighter possibilities rooted in faith and shared purpose. Indeed, hope is the anchor that steadies our souls and propels us forward.
On Good Friday, Christians solemnly commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. According to the Gospels, Jesus was arrested and brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea under Emperor Tiberius. Pilate, serving as a supreme judge, held the authority to order executions. Despite finding no guilt in Jesus, he reluctantly convicted him of treason due to pressure from the Jewish leaders and the crowd.
During the trial, Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You say so.” Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowd, declaring, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” However, as unrest began to escalate, Pilate symbolically washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” To avoid a riot and safeguard his position, Pilate ultimately ordered Jesus’ crucifixion.
Pilate faced a critical decision during the trial of Jesus. It was customary during the Passover festival to release one prisoner chosen by the crowd. Pilate presented two options: Jesus Barabbas, a notorious criminal, or Jesus, who is called the Messiah. Pilate, being aware that Jesus had been handed over out of envy, hoped to release him. However, the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to choose Barabbas instead.
When Pilate asked, “What shall I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” the crowd shouted, “Crucify him.” Pilate questioned further, “Why? What evil has he done?” But their cries for crucifixion grew louder. Reluctantly, Pilate released Barabbas and ordered Jesus to be flogged before handing him over for crucifixion. Jesus was sentenced to death on a cross at Golgotha (Calvary), where he was mocked with a sign reading “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. His sacrifice is central to Christian belief, symbolising redemption and salvation for humanity.
Christians observe Good Friday as the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and sacrificial death on the cross, which is central to their faith. It is called “Good” because Jesus’ sacrifice brought redemption, fulfilling God’s plan to save humanity from sin. As the psalmist reflects, no human can ransom their soul or pay the price for their life; only God could accomplish this. Thus, God incarnated as Jesus, born of a woman, to redeem humanity.
During his trial before Pontius Pilate, Jesus affirmed his divine mission, stating, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my followers would fight to prevent my arrest.” His death fulfilled prophecies and symbolised the ultimate act of love and mercy, where Jesus bore humanity’s sins to reconcile them with God. That is why hope of salvation is on the cross of Jesus Christ.
St Paul, a learnt Pharisee and an early convert to Christianity, reflects on the origin of sin and death in his epistle to the Romans: “Sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin and spread to all because all have sinned.” (Rom. 5:12) This foundational Christian belief traces humanity’s fallen state to Adam, the first man in the Bible, whose disobedience brought sin into the world. God had commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, warning that disobedience would result in death. However, deceived by the serpent, Adam’s wife Eve offered him the forbidden fruit, which he ate, thereby introducing sin and death into human existence.
This act of disobedience led to what is known as original sin, a hereditary condition affecting all humanity. St Paul emphasises that Adam’s transgression not only brought physical death but also spiritual separation from God. Yet, in contrast to Adam’s failure, Paul highlights Christ’s redemptive work: “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) Jesus Christ, the Son of God, entered the world to free humanity from sin and death. As St John the Evangelist writes, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (Jn. 3: 16)
Jesus was without sin – a perfect sacrifice for humanity’s redemption. St Paul explains this profound exchange: “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21) Through Christ’s obedience and sacrifice, believers are offered grace and eternal life, reversing the consequences of Adam’s fall. And this is possible only due to the “Good Friday”.
On Good Friday, Christians remember Jesus as the “Lamb of God” who sacrificed himself to take away the sins of the world. This act connects deeply to the Jewish Passover story in the Old Testament.
When the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, God sent Moses to lead them to freedom. After nine devastating plagues failed to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites, a final, tenth plague was sent: the death of every firstborn in Egypt. To protect themselves, the Israelites followed God’s command given through Moses — to sacrifice a spotless lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood. When the angel of death saw the blood, he ‘passed over” those homes, sparing the firstborn inside. This event became the foundation of the annual Passover feast, where the Israelites ate the lamb with unleavened bread in haste as they prepared to leave Egypt.
The Passover lamb’s blood symbolised protection and deliverance. In Christina’s belief, Jesus’ crucifixion during Passover fulfils this symbolism. Jesus, sinless and perfect, is considered the ultimate Passover Lamb whose sacrifice offers redemption and forgiveness for all humanity. Just as the lamb’s blood saved the Israelites from death, Jesus’ blood is believed to save believers from sin and spiritual death, making his sacrifice the final and complete atonement.
By becoming the Paschal Lamb, Jesus gave new and transcendent meaning to the Jewish Passover. In the Old Testament, the Passover lamb was sacrificed as a symbol of the forgiveness of their sins. It was their annual reminder of sin. However, the New Testament asserts that the blood of animals could never truly remove sin: “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hb. 10: 4) Thus, Jesus came as the true, sinless Lamb of God, whose sacrifice was not just a symbol but the fulfilment and replacement of the old covenant sacrifices. By dying on the cross during Passover, Jesus established a new covenant, abolishing the first in order to establish the second, offering a perfect and permanent atonement for sin.
It is pertinent to mention here what Jesus did at his last supper. At his last supper, Jesus transformed the meaning of the Passover meal. As they were eating, He took bread, blessed and broke it, giving it to His disciples and saying, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” In this act, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, making Himself the true Paschal Lamb, whose body and blood bring redemption, thus fulfilling and surpassing the original Passover.
Thus, Good Friday and Passover are deeply connected: both celebrate liberation – one from physical slavery and the other from spiritual bondage – through the sacrifice of a lamb.