Christians in Buea observe Good Friday with call to shun sin

Christian faithful in the Buea Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church have been quickened to shun sin and to reconcile with God and with one another as they commemorated Good Friday.

They joined millions of Christians worldwide today to commemorate the passion of Christ on Good Friday, particularly his sacrificial death on the wooden cross to redeem mankind.

The Bishop of Buea, Mgr Michael Bibi, in a sermon at the Small Soppo Cathedral, said Good Friday was a moment for Christians to meditate on Christ’s suffering and to make amends with God.

“[Good Friday] is an invitation that the Church wants us to remember, you know, the big sacrifice that Jesus made for humanity by accepting to die upon the cross for love of us,” Mgr Bibi said.

“And at the same time, you know, challenging us, as Christians, that if Jesus died in order to save us from our sins, then we too are challenged to make sure that every day we run away from sin. Sin is an offence against God. Sin as an offence against the Church and when we talk about the Church we’re referring to the people of God, we are referring to our brothers and sisters.”

Prior to the Mass, which was solemn, characterised by singing and scripture reading, the Christians re-enacted the painful suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

In a street display on Friday morning, a bloodied man who played Jesus carried a wooden cross while fierce looking men, acting as Roman soldiers of the first century, whipped him.

Behind him, a crowd of both disciples and adversaries, in this case Christians dressed in black and red, followed. Some appeared to be wailing.

The street procession ended with the man playing Jesus being tied to the wooden cross he was carrying, symbolizing the crucifixion. He was accompanied to the cross, on both sides, by two other people.

The sorrowful spectacle enacted on Good Friday will turn into joy on Sunday, when Christians will celebrate the resurrection of Christ, marking Easter Sunday.

At the Divine Mercy Cathedral in Buea, no Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, which will be characterized by candle lighting, symbolical mourning and reflections on the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

“Today also reminds us that if God loves us and allows us only begotten son to die upon the altar of the cross for us, we too are expected to love God in return, to love our brothers and sisters so that together we can all journey towards his kingdom,” Bishop Bibi said.

The prelate was preaching love and sin at a time when vices such as corruption, sexual immorality, greed, indecency, among others, are rampant in the Cameroonian society, including the Church.

Good Friday is part of the Holy Week, which starts on Palm Sunday, and ends on Easter Sunday. It is characterised by the suffering, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

©Mimi Mefo Info