I hope you will be sharing the sadness of Holy Week as it progresses from the acclamation of Jesus by the crowds on Palm Sunday through the celebration of the Triduum with the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday, the Washing of Feet, the Stripping of the Altars, the Watch before the Blessed Sacrament, the brutal treatment and awful crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, the great service of the New Fire (The Easter Vigil), the lighting of the Paschal Candle the wonderful Exultat followed by the Readings and the first Mass of Easter at the Vigil on Saturday climaxing on Sunday in the overwhelming joy of Easter.
Present day Christians have a distinct advantage over the disciples of Jesus’ day because we know that the end of the sad Holy Week story culminates in the great joy of Easter. So when we come to church on Good Friday and try and put ourselves at the foot of the cross by hearing again the Passion of Our Lord we know that three days later we will be celebrating His Resurrection.
We can only truly celebrate and experience true Easter joy if we go through most or all of the preceding days.
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