It's Been a Holy Week

I have to admit that I am an Easter guy.  For me, it is Easter that lifts up my soul and not Christmas.  I know that if we didn't have Christ's birth we could not share in his Resurrection, but the secular world seems to have stolen Christmas.  And while there is the Easter bunny, he doesn't (thankfully) command as much attention as Santa does!

This is Holy Week -- that spiritual journey we are invited to make from Palm Sunday (The Sunday of the Passion) to the washing of feet on Maundy Thursday, Jesus' Friday death on the Cross -- and now, beginning tonight, the GREAT EASTER CELEBRATION.

This past week, Sabine and I have been serving little Holy Trinity Church in Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi River.  They are a small, faithful group of Episcopalians who recently lost their priest who had served them for forty years.  We began this week with the procession of palms singing that familiar refrain, "All glory, laud and honor, to thee Redeemer King..."

On Maundy Thursday, whose name comes from the Latin, "mandatum" -- to command -- we washed one another's feet as Jesus asked us to do (for by being a servant to one another we show others we follow Jesus).  On this day we also celebrate the Lord's Supper together.  On this day we begin the three-day "Triduum:" one continuing path of worship from this day to Good Friday and then to the Great Easter Celebration!

As we left the church on Thursday evening the sanctuary is striped of it's paraments, candles and crosses in preparation for the Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday.  We began the Good Friday with the Stations of the Cross (using Joan Chittister's meditative, "Gateway to Resurrection," followed by the Good Friday liturgy which includes the Solemn Collects and an adoration in front of a large wooden cross.  At the end of the lituryg, we silently exit the church after sharing Communion from the Reserved Sacrament.  All the bread and wine are consumed leaving the Aumbry (tabernacle) which houses the Reserved Sacrament empty -- like a tomb.

All this is in spiritual preparation for the The Great Easter Vigil at sunset on Saturday.  At the Great Vigil we build a new fire, light the paschal candle and enter into the darkened church we left on Good Friday.  Prophecies from the Hebrew Bible are heard, and baptisms conducted.  It is also the time for all Christians to come forward and renew their baptismal convenants and be reminded of our baptism as we are sprinkled with holy water from the font.  Then the congregation exits the dark church praying the Prayers of the People.

Soon, the door of the church is opened.  I shout, "Alleluia, Christ is Risen!" and the congregation responds, "The Lord is Risen, indeed, Alleluia!" and enters a church filled with light, the fragrance of Easter lilies, and the joyous Gloria which has not been heard since the beginning of Lent -- "Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth!" 

It is now that the Easter celebration begins.  Bells are rung -- rejoicing is everywhere as we all celebrate the first Easter Mass and partake in the bread and wine and experience the Risen Christ!

So this is why I love Holy Week.  It is a spiritual journey which both nutures and blesses me and mine.

HAVE A BLESSED EASTER.  Rise up with the Risen Christ!  Move out of the tomb which holds you and go toward the Light of all Lights!