Is This Friday Really 'Good'?

Today marks Good Friday, the day in the Christian tradition when Jesus died on the cross. 

In honor of this day, Butler University's group of ministries offered a combined ecumenical service at noon in Robertson Hall.

I think I've gone the last year or two, and it has been an enriching experience each time. What's neat about it is that it brings together students from the Butler Catholic Community, Campus Crusade for Christ and Grace Unlimited (Episcopal faith). The service is usually a combination of hymns, a message and  time of reflection. 

In a sense it brings me joy to see that, despite our different worship styles and 'differences' we are bound together by Christ's sacrifice for us. It's times like this when I wish there were no barriers between denominations. Why can't we just live under the same umbrella of God's love? 

Pastor Jeff Krajewski, of Common Ground Christian Church, asked of us, "Do you trust the pattern of the cross?" I guess what he's saying is, "Do I trust that God is faithful?" Fr. Charles Allen, of Grace Unlimited, said that most of the time we don't trust the pattern of the cross.

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Wow. Until Jeff read those words aloud, I didn't really understand the weight of that statement. To listen to a friend's troubles means to help carry their burden. But God calls us to do that. Part of carrying those burdens allows us to enter into a deep relationship with fellow Christians - and that's what Go calls us to do!

So the final question Jeff left us with: 

Do we trust the pattern of the cross?