The Easter Triduum

So I see some of my Youth Minister friends blogging very consistently and I always feel a little ashamed of the frequency of my blogs. Then I remind myself that as a teacher in the classroom instead  of a Youth Minister in a parish, my schedule may not be as suited to frequent blogging as some of my Youth Ministry colleagues', and that makes me feel a little better. But this has been the ninth day in a row that I have not had school and I haven't blogged so apparently it has nothing to do with my schedule and everything to do with the fact that most of my friends are just better than me.

Regardless, I have wanted to write a post each day during the Triduum about little things that occurred to me, and I am finally getting around to it.

I love this time of year. Ever since I really dove into the Catholic Church about 7 years ago, the last few days of Lent and the Easter Triduum have always been my favorite days of the year. It isn't about any family traditions or Easter Egg Hunts or fancy meals. For me, its all about the "nervous" tension of leading up to Easter. It is like when you are reading an exciting book or watching a great movie and, as they say, "the plot thickens" and you can't wait to see what happens next. That excited waiting never ceases to overcome me.

It seems a bit strange, since I know exactly what happens next. The story has been the same for the last 2000 years. I've read it in the Scriptures over and over again. I have heard it in the Liturgy every year. And yet every year its like its happening for the first time. And maybe this is what God wants us to experience. I mean, isn't this the whole point of Lent? The Christian life is one of continuous conversion, but isn't Lent an incredibly geared towards this? Our 40 days of sacrifice are meant to help us re-prioritize, center our life around Christ, and prepare a place for Him in our hearts. So every year we sacrifice as Christ did in the desert before the beginning of His ministry. Every day, but especially during Lent, we are baptized into Christ's death so that we might also share in His resurrection.

I read a post today my friend Jason did for Lighthouse Catholic Youth (which you can check out here) and he talks about this idea that every Easter we should think of Christ risen now not just 2000 years ago. And if we truly enter into Lent each year, then we will experience the joy Easter more fully each year. But if we haven't sacrificed with Christ, if we don't die with him, what do we expect to gain on Easter Sunday? Its that age-old adage: "You only get out of it what you put into it."

And so each year, as I strive to conform myself to Christ more fully during Lent, I get more and more excited as Easter gets closer and closer. The nervous tension builds as I look forward to the glory of Easter. And it all comes to a head during the Triduum, the celebration and commemoration of the last three days of Jesus Christ's earthly life. Holy Thursday comes and we see Jesus wash the feet of His Apostles.

One thing that will never cease to amaze me, apart from the humility and love needed just to wash the feet of 12 men,especially in that culture, is the humility that it took for Jesus to wash the feet of one man in particular: Judas Iscariot. Can you imagine? Jesus clearly knew that Judas would betray Him (Matthew 26:25). But instead of waiting for Judas to leave the Last Supper, He washes his feet along with the other Apostles. If this is not proof of God's unconditional love? Jesus humbled Himself to serve even the man who would betray Him.



I wonder what was going through Judas' mind when Jesus was washing his feet? Was he having second thoughts? Did he feel remorse yet? Did he recognize his mistake yet? My mother-in-law likes to talk about "killing people with kindness" and I can't help but thinking this is what Jesus was doing. Not in a "I am going to love you to make you feel bad" kind of way, but in "I love you in the way that only I can because I am your Creator" kind of way. Regardless of what Judas was going to do, Jesus loved him as much as He loved the other Apostles, as much as He loves us today. (On a side note, this thought often gives me Hope when my sins try to fool me into thinking that God doesn't love me the same.)

And then Good Friday. Someone wished me a "Happy Good Friday" and all I could think was that "Happy" and "Good Friday" don't belong together. Good Friday should make us uncomfortable. Good Friday should leave us longing for Christ's presence. We should feel a profound sense of loss on Good Friday as we remember Christ's sacrifice, as we ponder the mystery of the God-man lying dead in the darkness of the tomb.

I love what Mark Hart, AKA the Bible Geek, Tweeted about Good Friday. He said, "The miracle of Good Friday is that there was no miracle. Legions of angels stood-with swords sheathed-as the Son took our place." What a great insight! Even Peter, who had a limited understanding of who Christ truly was, didn't want Him to suffer the Cross (Matthew 16: 21-22). How difficult it must have been for the angels to stand idly by and watch the King of Kings be murdered by those He had created.

And on Holy Saturday we wait. We wait eagerly to shout "Alleluia!" We wait to praise the risen Christ as He conquers death. We wait to sing joyfully and rejoice in the presence of our Savior. And finally. after being patient, after enduring sacrifice after sacrifice, after dying with Christ, we share in the glory of His Resurrection.

Today, we celebrate the Risen Christ. Today we celebrate the event without which our faith would be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14). Today we celebrate that Love has conquered death. We celebrate life that Jesus Christ gives us: life more abundantly.

So today, and for the rest of the Easter Season, REJOICE! Sin has lost its power, death has lost its sting, and Hell has no victory! Rejoice in the Victory Christ won for us!

God Love You!