From the Dean’s Desk… Looking for resurrection

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Lazarus, Catacomb fresco

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  (John 11:23-26)

Before the fruit is ripened by the sun,  Lazarus, Juan de Flandes
Before the petals of the leaves uncoil,
Before the first fine silken root is spun,
A seed is dropped and buried in the soil.

Before we gain the grace that comes through loss,
Before we live by more than bread and breath,
Before we lift in joy an empty cross,
We face with Christ the seed’s renewing death.


~ Thomas H. Troeger

Coming soon to us, and us to them, are the highest and holiest days of the Christian year, the year which began with a time of hopeful contemplation on the mystery of the Incarnation, a time we call Advent, a time of wondering at the wonder of the Word become flesh and dwelling among us, anciently and presently and fully and forever at the end of time, whether the end of my personal kronos or at the end of cosmic kronos, the ultimate kairos, or perfect time/ing of God.

Months, if not the winter, have gone by quickly; the 13th of April will be the Sunday of Palm and Passion, the beginning of Holy Week, completed with the Triduum, the single service which takes place in three parts over three days (triduum in Latin):  Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter on what we now call Saturday night, but which, for Jesus’ first disciples, and all observant Jews to this day, is the beginning – with sunset on Saturday – of the new day called Sunday.  Easter Sunday, that day called The Resurrection of Our Lord, continues the celebration, and gets us into the party groove for the next seven weeks – a week of weeks – through the third of the great high Holy-Days of our Christian calendar, the Day of Pentecost.

Here, then, are markers for the final stage of our baptismal pilgrimage to the Cross, and beyond…


Sunday of Palm and Passion:  Sung Eucharist at 10:30 a.m., including Procession with Palms

Maundy Thursday, Triduum, Part I:  Footwashing and Eucharist, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, Triduum Part II:  The Passion According to St. John,
and Adoration of the Crucified, 10:30 a.m.

 
‘Holy Saturday’ and Triduum Part III:  The Great Vigil of Easter, 8 p.m., with Service of Light, Word, Baptism, and Meal of Thanksgiving (Eucharist)

Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of Our Lord, Sung Eucharist. 10:30 a.m.

Thanks be to God!