By Joseph Masilamany
KUCHING — As Christians across the world marked Good Friday in solemn remembrance of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching urged the faithful to become instruments of forgiveness, healing, and peace in a world scarred by conflict and division.
Speaking during the Good Friday liturgy at St Joseph’s Cathedral, the archbishop said the suffering and death of Christ on the cross remain a powerful sign of God’s love for humanity.
“Good Friday is not only about recalling the pain and humiliation that Jesus endured,” Archbishop Poh said. “It is about recognising the depth of God’s love — a love that forgives, heals, and restores even in the face of violence and rejection.”
Good Friday, observed during Holy Week, commemorates the passion and death of Jesus Christ, believed by Christians to have taken place in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago. The day is marked by solemn liturgies, veneration of the Cross, and prayers for the Church and the world.
Archbishop Poh noted that Christ’s final words on the Cross — “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” — remain a challenge to Christians today.
“In a time when our world is wounded by war, hatred, and injustice, the message of Good Friday calls us to forgive as we have been forgiven,” he said. “We cannot claim to follow Christ if we continue to harbour anger, division, and indifference toward others.”
Echoing the universal Church’s call to prayer, the archbishop encouraged Catholics in the Archdiocese of Kuching to unite spiritually with the Holy Father and the global Church in praying for peace, especially for those suffering from violence and displacement.
“Christ is still crucified today in the suffering of the innocent,” he said. “When we stand at the foot of the Cross, we stand with all who are in pain — the poor, the oppressed, and those whose voices are silenced.”
The Good Friday liturgy includes the Solemn Intercessions, where Catholics pray for the Pope, Church leaders, civil authorities, those preparing for baptism, and all who are in need. Many also observe fasting and abstinence as acts of penance and solidarity with Christ’s sacrifice.
Archbishop Poh said these practices should lead to a genuine conversion of heart.
“Fasting and abstinence are not merely obligations,” he said. “They are invitations to examine our lives, to turn away from sin, and to renew our commitment to love God and neighbour.”
He also reminded the faithful that the Cross, central to Christian faith, is not merely a symbol to be displayed but a call to action.
“The Cross teaches us to love without counting the cost, to forgive without limits, and to serve with humility,” he said. “If we truly venerate the Cross, then we must live what it represents.”
As the Church moves from the sorrow of Good Friday to the hope of Easter, Archbishop Poh urged Christians to carry the message of the Cross into their daily lives.
“Good Friday leads us to Easter,” he said. “But before we rejoice in the resurrection, we must first walk the path of sacrifice, mercy, and love. Only then can we become true witnesses of hope in our world.”
Across Malaysia, churches were filled with worshippers who gathered in silence and prayer, reflecting on the passion of Christ and renewing their commitment to live out the values of the Gospel.
For many, the message of Good Friday remains both timeless and urgent — a call to embody compassion, forgiveness, and peace in a fractured world.
The Cross as Witness, Good Friday in Borneo
For Christians, the Cross stands at the heart of the faith — a symbol of suffering, sacrifice, and ultimately, redemption. Catholics, in particular, often use the crucifix, a cross bearing the figure of Christ, as a powerful reminder of Jesus’ death and the salvation it brings for humanity.
More than a religious emblem, the crucifix calls believers to a way of life.
“When you see me wearing a crucifix with my cassock, it is not an ornament,” a Church leader said. “It is a reminder for me to live as a follower of Jesus — to love, to forgive, to make sacrifices in serving others, and to help make the world a better place.”
Catholics also make the Sign of the Cross in prayer, recalling their baptism and the saving act of Christ’s crucifixion, while seeking God’s blessing in their daily lives.
In Sarawak and neighbouring Sabah, Good Friday is observed as a state public holiday, allowing Christians to fully participate in church services and enter into the solemnity of the day.
Leaders in the state have also extended greetings to the Christian community. Sarawak’s Governor Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Chief Minister Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg expressed hope that the occasion would bring “joy, peace, and comfort” to those celebrating, while reminding all of the importance of family, togetherness, and shared humanity.
They also called on all communities to continue nurturing unity and mutual respect, ensuring that Sarawak’s long-standing harmony remains strong for future generations.
As churches across the state fill with the faithful in prayer and reflection, the message of Good Friday resonates beyond the sanctuary — a call to live lives marked by compassion, reconciliation, and sacrificial love.
