What You Need to Know
During Good Friday services across Tanzania, clerics emphasized the importance of truth and repentance in fostering unity and moral integrity among Christians. Bishop Stephano Musomba of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bagamoyo highlighted that truth is essential for development and peace, while Anglican Bishop Jackson Sosthenes urged believers to reflect on the significance of Christ’s death and to
Africa-Press – Tanzania. CHRISTIANS across the country have been urged to embrace truth in their daily lives as a foundation for development, unity and moral integrity.
The call was made on Friday by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bagamoyo Bishop, Stephano Musomba, during a Good Friday service held at the national level at the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel Parish.
Bishop Musomba said that Christ’s mission on earth was not only spiritual, but also aimed at restoring human dignity and unity among people. He urged both believers and the wider public to return to a life anchored in truth, warning that its absence has contributed to moral decay, division and injustice in society.
“Christ came to bear witness to the truth. Therefore, Christians are called to live fully in truth, goodness, beauty and unity,” he said.
“ He said that although human beings were created in the image and likeness of God, as stated in the Book of Genesis, that truth is often forgotten, leading to wounded societies and weakened moral conscience. Expanding on the national implications, Bishop Musomba stressed that truth is essential for meaningful development and lasting peace. “Truth is the foundation of development. Without it, we cannot build unity or achieve lasting progress,” he said.
He added, “If we continue praising one another without speaking honestly, we fail our nation and future generations. We must have the courage to speak the truth, even when it is uncomfortable, because it is truth that heals and guides a nation forward.”
According to the bishop, recognising every person as created in God’s image forms the basis of human rights, justice and peace. Ignoring this truth, he warned, leads to widespread injustice and inhumane treatment.
“When we lose this truth, we begin to see one another as threats,” he said.
“ He also cautioned against hypocrisy and blind loyalty, stressing the need for consistency between faith and action. Bishop Musomba urged citizens to recognise the equal dignity of every individual, regardless of status, wealth, or political affiliation.
Equally, he urged individuals, families and leaders to take responsibility for moral renewal, stressing that national transformation depends on a collective commitment to truth and justice. During a Good Friday service at St Alban’s Cathedral, Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Dar es Salaam, Jackson Sosthenes, called on Christians to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s death, focusing on the reality of death, the source of life and the need for spiritual preparation.
Quoting Jesus’ words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” the Bishop Jackson said the statement affirms that death is inevitable.
“Jesus had no sin, yet He died. This reminds us that death is real and closer than we often think,” he said. He said that many people assume death is far away, especially when they are in good health.
“There is no formula with God that one must be sick in order to die. As we live our daily lives, we must remember that death exists,” he said, urging believers to live with humility and to honour God. On the value of life, Bishop Jackson stressed that life belongs to God alone.
“The life we have is not our own. There is One who gave it and He can take it at any time,” he said, adding that such awareness should guide people to live with gratitude and humility.
He also warned against focusing only on material preparations such as wealth and property.
“It is vanity to divide houses and land while forgetting to entrust your soul to God,” he said, emphasising the importance of spiritual readiness. Bishop Jackson encouraged believers to prepare early, noting life’s uncertainty. “You may be surprised that those who carry your coffin are people you once held resentment against,” he said, calling on Christians to live in peace, forgiveness and readiness.
At the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania’s Azania Front Cathedral Assistant Bishop and Dean Reverend Chediel Lwiza, centred his Good Friday message on a prophetic song highlighting four key aspects of Christ’s journey: rejection and humiliation, bearing the sins of humanity, suffering and oppression, and God’s promise amid pain.
He emphasised that the true meaning of Good Friday lies in understanding the depth of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and what it represents in the life of every believer. Dean Lwiza explained that when the Bible speaks of Christ “bearing our burdens,” it signifies that He personally took upon Himself the sins and suffering of humanity without any assistance. Reflecting on Christ’s suffering, he noted that Jesus chose silence during His persecution despite the immense pain He endured.
“He remained silent. He did not justify Himself, even in the face of great pain,” he said, urging believers to embrace humility and endurance in their own lives. The Dean further reminded the congregation of God’s promise that prevails even in moments of suffering, noting that Jesus willingly offered Himself for the redemption of mankind.
“He poured out His life unto death, knowing even at the Last Supper that His blood would be shed for the forgiveness of sins,” he said. Assistant Reverend at Kijitonyama Lutheran Church, Anna Kuyonga, urged Christians to use Good Friday to reflect on humanity’s redemption.
“Before redemption, we were in great suffering, but God came with a strategic plan to bring Jesus Christ so that He could offer Himself as a sacrifice by dying on the cross, allowing us, who were in sin, to be set free,” she said.
Pastor Kuyonga said the plan had two main purposes: restoring the relationship between God and humanity and removing people from sin to embrace God’s intended purpose. She called on Christians to pray, repent and seek God’s mercy, while giving thanks for His saving deeds.
She also noted that many live without direction, having lost their true worth, but reassured that through repentance, God can restore everyone to their true value and destiny.
The observance of Good Friday is a significant event in the Christian calendar, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a day of reflection and solemnity, where believers are encouraged to contemplate the themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the importance of living a life anchored in truth. Clerics often use this occasion to address moral and ethical issues within society, urging congregants to align their lives with Christian teachings. This year’s messages from various bishops in Tanzania focused on the need for truth and repentance as foundational elements for personal and national transformation.
