07/04/2023
Why Full Moon every Good Friday?
According to the Church’s tradition, Christ died and rose again from the dead at the time of the spring equinox, when the moon was full. The date is not fixed like Christmas which always fall of December 25 but according to a luni-solar calendar which depends on the phases of the moon.
Three elements constitute the date of Easter each year:
1. Spring (March and April)
2. Equinox (March 21)
3. Full moon after March 21
Now there is symbolism here in these cosmic elements:
1. Spring means rebirth or new life.
2. Equinox brings us back to the time of creation when God divided light and darkness into two equal parts.
3. Full moon signifies fullness of life and endless light.
After the Council of Nicea in 321, which ordained that easter must be celebrated after the full moon which rises after March 21 each year.
So what is the connection of Spring and Equinox to the full moon of Good Friday?
In the words of Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB:
“Good Friday alludes to the first Friday when Adam was created; it alludes to the tree of paradise on account of which Adam fell Into sin of disobedience. According to the rabbinic-tradition, Adam was created on Friday also sinned and died on a Friday. By dying on the wood of the cross (the tree) on calvary (the mountain of paradise) on Friday Jesus became the new Adam.
In the patristic tradition, especially in the thinking of St. Augustine, Christ is the new Adam who slept the sleep of death on Calvary; from his side there flowed out blood and water that is the Church itself, in the manner of Eve who was formed by God from the side of Adam as he slept is paradise.
Good Friday commemorates not only the sacrifice of death of the new Adam, but also the birth of the new Eve, the Church. When Christ died, the Church was born, in order to continue the work Christi began. It is difficult to think of Christ and His sacrifice without thinking of the Church His bride.”
Anscar Chupungco , OSB, The Holy Week and Easter Triduum, p. 48.
Thus, everytime you see the full moon every Good Friday remember Jeus died on the cross and offered His life for our redemption to give us the fullness of life and to be with Him in the endless light after our earthly life.
