On Friday, April 18th, 2025, His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak assisted by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Alkass, celebrated the service of worship of the Crucifixion Of our Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday, at the Parish of the Virgin Mary in Paramus, New Jersey. His Eminence delivered his sermon titled “The Earth Shook and the Veil Was Torn,”reflecting on Matthew 27:50–54. The sermon focused on the deep meaning of Jesus’ death on the Cross and how it changed the world. He explained four amazing signs that happened at that exact moment: the veil in the temple was torn,there was a great earthquake, the graves were opened, and a Roman centurion declared, “Truly this was the Son of God.”His Eminence reminded the faithful that the torn veil shows us that through Jesus, we can now come close to God. He said the earthquake shows how the world was shaken and changed forever by Christ’s sacrifice. The opened graves point to Jesus’ victory over death. And the words of the centurion invite all people to believe and follow Jesus. His Eminence encouraged everyone by telling them not to respond to the Cross with silence or forgetfulness, but instead with faith, humility, and a new desire to live in God’s love every day. He then concluded by saying this message is for all of us to always remember the Cross, and let it guide our lives with light and love.
