KOTA KINABALU – Carrying the cross while making the journey atop a hill in the Station of the Cross prayers has been a unique tradition for some Christians in Sabah, but in the time of Covid-19, they have had to give it a miss.
The year 2021 marked the second Good Friday in a row the churchgoers from the quiet village of Sugud, Penampang near here, have had to exclude the practice.
But this year seems much better than the last, with many attending mass via live online streaming.
For the Sugud folks who had taken part in the hilltop ritual, they could not help but feel something was "missing" from their annual Good Friday prayers.
Anthony Benedick, 43, who volunteered to carry the cross some years ago, said unlike the public crucifixions in the Philippines, the carrying of the cross done in his church is the Station of the Cross.
"This is not like the real-life re-enactments of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
"We don't literally nail our hands to the cross and go through the same torture as Jesus Christ did.
"But it’s just the Station of the Cross prayers done outdoors while walking up a hill.
"Overall, there are 14 stations where the prayers are done while all of us walk up a hill in this village,” he told The Vibes.
Good Friday is about the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is observed ahead of Easter which falls on the following Sunday.
It was the day Christ was arrested and executed, where he was tortured, made to carry a heavy wooden cross before he was nailed to the cross on top of a hill.
For Roman Catholic Christians, Good Friday signifies the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of people. It was a gesture that humanity got a fresh start, and all their sins were dismissed.
The said crucifixion is believed to have happened around 30-33 AD.
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Good Friday is observed as a public holiday in Sabah, as well as in Sarawak.
With the cases of new Covid infection still active in Sabah, the number of churchgoers had been halved, with churches limiting some activities.
Benedick could not recall when the practice took place in his church but noted it was done for as long as he can remember.
"Such prayers are done in all churches and for some churches, where a hill is nearby, they would probably do it outdoors, otherwise it is just a normal church prayer.
"For instance, the prayers are done on the stations built outside of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, where the church sits on the slope of a hill," he said.
Simon Peter, 41, said anyone can offer themselves to carry the wooden cross even regular church members.
"There are many offering themselves to carry the cross. There's a sense of satisfaction in doing this.
"Although it is not as painful as the ones done in the Philippines, the energy, the struggle bringing up the wooden cross and stopping on all the stations, I was able to feel at least a bit or understand what Jesus Christ had to go through when he was made to do carrying the cross.
"I think I can feel a bit of the pain he had gone through in his crucifixion," said Peter, saying he felt much closer to Jesus and strengthened his faith in his religion.
Peter said his faith in Christianity did not wane even when it has been two years his church did not organise such an event, but he can't help feel that there's something was missing from the usual original Good Friday prayers.
"The next one is this Sunday, which is Easter Sunday. It will be just prayers and have some low-key party at home with family members," said Peter, adding however this year he was able to go to church, unlike last year where he was only to observe the prayers online through the live masses. – The Vibes, April 3, 2021
