March 9, 2016

I serve as the vice president for the Board of football officials.  This past Monday we had our first board meeting of the year and discussed such thrilling topics as scheduling, certification, game fees, attraction and retention, meeting dates from July to November, and board meeting dates from now until July.

As we began talking about meeting dates for the board, the president said, “Hey, Rev . . . when is Easter this year?”

“March 27.”

“Oh . . . that would explain why I couldn't find it on the April calendar.”

Somebody else wondered out loud if he thought maybe Easter had been canceled this year.  I informed them that, no, Easter had not been canceled.

Which brings me to today.  This isn't so much a “Wednesday Word” as much as it is a “Wednesday Reminder.”  Easter has not been canceled.  Neither has Palm/Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday, or Good Friday.  In fact, all of Holy Week will continue as it always has – with our celebration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, our participation in his last meal and our desertion, the remembrance of his crucifixion and death, all culminating in the joyous events of Easter Day.

Two weeks from today we will be in the middle of Holy Week.  The Triduum, the great three days, will begin on Maundy Thursday with our shared meal and final Eucharist of the week.  Over those three days we experience and participate in the mystery of dying and rising again.  This is the time when we pass over from death to life.  This is THE central event of Christianity – Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

As has been said so often by so many:  before you get to Easter, you have to go through Good Friday.  There is no resurrection without death.  The great paradox of Christianity is that in order to live, you must first die.  The Triduum, as an overarching event, allows us to catch a glimpse of that holy movement.  For us to truly understand and appreciate Easter, we must make the journey with Jesus and his disciples through the last meal, desertion by his friends, and his death and burial.

Holy Week is just over a week away.  And for as much as we see the Triduum encompassing three days and three different services, it is, in fact, one long, unified liturgy.  It begins with the gathering on Maundy Thursday and ends at the Resurrection.  I encourage you, to the best of your ability, to make this a priority and attend all the events of this liturgical centerpiece of our faith.

May you have a blessed Holy Week.

Amen.