Fr. Uy on Good Friday: ‘Jesus, the lamb without blemish, bore our sins on the cross’

By Nimfa Estrellado Most Reverend Mel Rey M. Uy, Bishop of the Diocese of Lucena, delivering his homily during the Good Friday service at St...

By Nimfa Estrellado

Most Reverend Mel Rey M. Uy, Bishop of the Diocese of Lucena, delivering his homily during the Good Friday service at St. Ferdinand Cathedral. (St. Ferdinand Cathedral)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon - "Though we walk as individuals, it is in our shared faith that we find strength and purpose." With these words, Most Reverend Mel Rey M. Uy, Bishop of the Diocese of Lucena, commenced the solemn afternoon homily mass at the St. Ferdinand Cathedral on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.

Employing the art of a good storyteller, Bishop Uy made a strong comparison, showing Jesus as the Passover Lamb. This comparison showed Christ’s willing giving of himself as the perfect, spotless gift for the sins of all people. The story of the crucifixion was told, marked by Pilate's clear statement of innocence: “I found no fault in this man.”



At the center of Bishop Uy’s message was the deep idea of God's exchange, a powerful act of love where the sinless Christ took on the weight of human wrongdoings. His voice urged the people to look inside themselves, a call to leave their own mistakes at the foot of the cross and start a journey of personal newness.

He explained the different meaning of Barabbas’ name, "Son of the Father," next to Jesus, the true and loved Son, making them feel even more God’s great love. The people moved as the Bishop's voice felt like it was about today. "It's like we hear that story in our time now," he said sadly, his words full of worry.

Following the solemn homily, the traditional Good Friday procession unfolded through the streets of Lucena City, a deeply significant communal event. Devotees reverently carried 29 carrozas, each an ornate platform displaying statues of saints that represent various facets of their faith and history. The collective prayers of the faithful, mingled with the soft glow of candlelight, created a powerful atmosphere of devotion and shared remembrance of Christ's ultimate sacrifice.

This shared act of devotion was a strong showing of their lasting faith, pointing to the main ideas of being saved and giving a bright hope as the people went through the sad day of Good Friday, waiting for the joy of Easter morning. "Let us leave our bad things at the foot of Jesus' cross. Let us give our anger to the cross. Leave it at the cross for a while. Let us change, let us change now. Jesus has saved us.”

The Good Friday walk in the Philippines, especially in Calabarzon and cities like Lucena, is a lively and deeply rooted cultural custom. These walks, often showing decorated platforms telling stories of Christ's suffering and holy people, are a public showing of belief passed down through families.