Today marks the beginning of the Triduum, or 3 days of events that have eternal significance for the world. Our liturgy over these next days remind us that we don’t just skip and dance into Easter. Rather, we allow the events of the past to be present so we can better appreciate Easter. These events leading up to Easer Sunday are:

Maundy Thursday tonight at 6:30pm. This is the day Jesus gave His new commandment to love one another and showed this by washing the disciples’ feet. On this day He also instituted the Holy Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper. The foot washing has been very well received by ASD and guests with the inclusion of children, families, and friends. The service ends with the Stripping of the Altar when all Christian symbols are removed from the church so as to feel and sense what the world would be like without God.

Good Friday service begins at noon, the traditional time of Jesus’ crucifixion. This service includes scripture, hymns/songs, silence, intercessory prayer cards and short meditations on the stations of the cross. This service ends at about 1:45pm. This has proven to be an overwhelming time of reflection and contemplation of the events leading up to the death of Christ.

The Easter Vigil begins at 8:00pm on Holy Saturday with the lighting of the Easter fire, procession into the church, chanting of the Exsultet, short recitation of salvation history, baptisms and renewal of baptism vows and the first Easter Eucharist. This has proven to be another very popular worship time and is the beginning of Easter. This service ends at about 9:30pm.

Living an Alleluia Life-Easter Sunday

Walking on the road to Emmaus on that first Sunday, Cleopas and his companion are walking away from Jerusalem. The one they thought would save Israel is dead. At least that’s what they figured though some reports indicated the tomb was empty. Just like their hearts. Amazingly, the risen Jesus joins them in their downcast moments and they are so fixated on the past and future they miss the present.

Jesus then opens up how the scriptures speak of Him. They recognize Him in the breaking of bread and return back to Jerusalem. This is our liturgy! We see it in this story. We hear God’s word. We receive Him in the bread and wine and then go out into the world.

We learn so much from this story that only Luke includes in his gospel. Of all the stories he knows, this one is so important to include. It gives us at least 3 essentials to living and Easter life:

Pay attention to the present. You may miss Him walking right with you in your discouragement.

Be astonished. He is risen! We will talk about how we can be confident of the resurrection.

Go and tell. For 2000 years that’s what Christ followers have done. It has changed the world. The value of each life from the womb onwards is given dignity because He is risen in His body. Children, women, the marginalized, gentiles and Jews are all raised up to belong. This world matters and He is renewing it through His church and invites us to join.  The Holy Spirit is being poured out, hearts are being warmed again, lives being renewed, forgiveness offered, spiritual gifts exercised all because of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

Are you walking to Emmaus or Jerusalem?

Come and See.

+Philip