Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil

HE IS RISEN!!! HALLELUJAH!!! The Vigil is one of the most beautiful liturgies in the Catholic Church's calendar. Each Pastor has the option of which of the 7 readings they want to use, the Epistle, and the Gospel. At St. Tom's we do all 9 readings, and usually welcome between 20-30 new people into the Catholic Faith. It is such a beautiful experience.

The Triduum is such a beautiful time in our calendar, and my favorite time of year. There is so much emotion packed into a three day period. We start with the celebration of the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Such joy as our Lord shares Himself with us for the first time and for many opportunities in the future. But this day is tainted with our knowledge of what is to come. We end the evening in the chapel of repose. Christ has effectively left the building...the tabernacle is empty.

And it stays empty through the darkness of the Good Friday Service. Our Christ is sentenced to death, death on a cross; that He may pay for the sins we commit. We adore that cross as a symbol of His love for us. And the church remains in darkness until sundown Saturday. This is the one day each year that you cannot attend a celebration of Mass.

And then the sun sets! As the sun slips below the horizon we light the Easter fire. This has been my job the last three years. This is the first symbol of new birth, we burn the chrism and palms of the past year and from the flames light the new Easter candle that will shine the light of Christ through baptisms, marriages, funerals...this is the movement forward leaving behind the penitence of Lent to accept the joy of the Easter Season. We process with those preparing to enter the Church, into a dark church and spread the light of the Easter candle among our community. The Exhaultant begins and the lights come up around the church. Then the readings begin, each a reflection on another offering of love from our Lord, beginning with the Creation and continuing through human history to present day. The Gloria fills the space. It has been six weeks since we fell silent in the days of Lent, celebrating the Mass without the Gloria and no saying the "A-word", Alleluia. The church fills with joy as we erupt in song once again!

It is a beautiful site to behold as new members are baptized, trading in their brown garments for unblemished white ones. Our new members are confirmed with the fresh new chrism as they are welcomed fully into the church. And those who were among us now join at the table for the celebration of the Mass. For the first time they receive the Eucharist; The Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ...the Source and Summit of our Catholic faith. It is beautiful and amazing!

Christmas celebrates the birth of our Lord, Thanksgiving is an American holiday and time for family, Advent and Lent...time spent in waiting and preparation...all of these are fun and important to us. But the three days of Holy Week that make up the Triduum, to me these are one of the most beautiful and wonderful gifts of the church. We celebrate together as One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church the institution of the Source of our faith, and celebrate the death and resurrection of the most innocent sacrificial lamb.

Happy Easter! The Lord is RISEN! This is his resurrection and return to the glorious seat at His father's right hand.

Good Friday

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. - Luke 23:34

Even as they crucify Him, He shows mercy. He knows why He is here on earth and takes the punishment with open arms.

Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. - Luke 23:43

The Lord shows mercy. There are two thieves, one on either side. One could care less, and jeers at our Lord. But the other sees that this man being crucified with thieves is innocent. He asks for mercy, knowing he has done wrong, he hopes that there might still be a place for him in God's kingdom. Our Savior shows his mercy and assures the repentant thief of a place in His kingdom.

Woman, behold your son. Behold your mother. - John 19:26-27

As He hangs dying, He ensures that His mother is seen to in her most painful hour. But He not only gives one last comfort to His mother, He is also giving her to the world. Behold your mother, Mary most holy.

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? - Matthew 27:46

In the darkest hour, God the Father can not bear to look upon His son as Christ takes in the sins of the world. Christ calls to His father, but for God the Father to show mercy here would nullify all that had been done. God the Father turned His son over to the likes of man that man might be saved from their sins against the Father.

I thirst. - John 19:28

Christ has become man and brought Himself to that of level of His creation. He shows this here in His thirst and in His eventual death on the cross.

It is finished. - John 19:30

All that has been set by prophecy has come to pass. Christ has accomplished what He had come to do.

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. - Luke 23:46

As the prophecy is fulfilled, Christ hands His spirit over to the Father, that He might return to paradise with His Father.

This is our Lord God, become man and offering Himself for the sins of His creation. I think we often forget what truly happened. We see the image of a man on a cross, some even carry this image around our necks, but do we always remember what took place. The Triduum brings us to our knees, literally with the focus on the Last Supper, Christ's Sacrifice, and His Glorious Resurrection. I think this might be why the Triduum is my favorite season in the Catholic Church.

Holy Thursday

The supper has been completed, He has been handed over to the guards. Our Lord, our Savior has asked us these forty days to stay awake and pray with Him. Have we done so? Have we been faithful to our promises, have we struggled?

The Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-30) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father." Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

"Take and Eat." Did the apostles truly know what Christ meant for them to do? Did any of them understand what was to come? Do we know what is to come for us, how will we use this Triduum to prepare us for a risen Savior...we have the privilege of knowing the end of the story, the true purpose of the His presence on Earth. How can we use these three days to draw closer to Him?

And the washing of the feet. Our Lord stooped lower than the servant. To teach us to show love for others, to think of others before ourselves. We do not deserve to be treated as such kings as for our God to stop to make us clean. How might we wash the feet of others, not out of obedience, but out of LOVE!