 Dear sisters and brothers in our Lord Jesus, Blessed be His most Holy and merciful name! As we move towards the culmination of Lent and really the whole liturgical year, we enter the Easter Triduum. The Triduum is the three-day celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus - Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday. The Church meets during these three days to remember the great things that God has done for us in and through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Lent exists so that we can prepare ourselves for these three great days. What is remembered during these three days is so spectacular and miraculous that it takes the Church fifty days afterwards to celebrate it. From the close of Easter Sunday until Pentecost we celebrate with great joy that which Jesus has done for us, and with expectant faith pray for renewal of the promise of power from on high to empower his people to continue the mission of our Lord! Just imagine that someone you loved was torn from you unexpectedly, dying a painful, hideous death, and suddenly that person is brought back to life. Imagine your joy. How would you express that joy? Could you be happy for one day and be done with it? I don't think so! It would take many days, perhaps a lifetime to express your joy. Because that person's life has been restored, your life has been restored. Just think about Martha and Mary receiving Lazarus back from the dead. They threw a party to celebrate their brother's rising and gave an extravagant gift to, Jesus the Guest of honor (See John 12:1-11)! That is exactly what happens. Jesus dies a most dreadful death. God's only Son sent to save us has been put to death. And then suddenly, just as he said, he is alive again! We need fifty days to celebrate this great miracle - and like Mary and Martha we want to give ourselves to Jesus, who died and was raised for us (See 2 Cor. 5:14). So we take forty days (Lent) to prepare, three days (Easter Triduum) to experience, and fifty days (Easter time) to celebrate the astonishing news of our great God and Savior. As you journey through the Easter Triduum let me share with you a few resources:
Leo, Pete an I pray that this holy season will be a time of great encounter with the Lord for you and your families! May His saving graces be poured out in abundance upon you! Sincerely in the love of Christ, Dave Nodar |
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