TGIF

It's been more than a generation ago, I suppose, since the acronym TGIF came into vogue, indicating delight at the end of the typical work-week and the beginning of the week-end. A restaurant chain further popularized the abbreviation. Today is Friday, and I do Thank God, but not simply because the week-end is approaching.

Today is the Friday before Good Friday. For centuries many Christians have had special regard for Fridays, remembering that Jesus was crucified on that day of the week. In some traditions, folks fasted by refraining from eating meat on Fridays. Not so much these days, I realize. But as Palm Sunday approaches, inaugurating another Holy Week, it's inspiring to think what this season means to so many of us.

It's unlikely that we will ever recover the notion of Sunday as the first day of the week in our culture, though that historically has been the understanding of the Judeo-Christian tradition. But I like the idea of Friday symbolizing the end of the week, because it also marked the end of an age. On a Friday afternoon long ago, things changed. Just how much things changed wasn't known for a couple more days.