Holy Week Reflections

Monday began Holy Week, which takes us through the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.? As most dioceses around the country, our diocese begins Holy Week with the Chrism Mass. Today we did not have Mass at OCA because all the priests of the diocese are in Little Rock, celebrating the Chrism Mass with the bishop.? We are blessed, even though we are a mission diocese, that our bishop calls for all the priests to come to Little Rock at least three times a year.? It allows for fellowship and worship but most importantly for our priests to be led by our shepherd, Bishop Taylor. There is not a better way for priests to prepare for this week.

As a child and even as a teenager I took this holiest time of the year as just another break from school, replete with eating, feasting, and quality time with immediate and extended family.? Not until my senior year in high school and years in college, did I begin to reflect on the significance of the holy days prior to Easter Sunday. So I certainly understand the challenge, especially, in a larger culture for which these days go by largely unnoticed. To ensure we have the opportunity to enter more deeply into the significance of these holiest days of the year, we are pausing briefly from our usual routine of school and extracurricular activities Thursday through Sunday.?

Attending all of Holy Week services as a family, beginning with Holy Thursday, is a great way to enter more profoundly into these days.? When I was young, I always associated the Holy Thursday Mass with washing of the feet. Whether because of all of the altar servers or adults from the parish involved in this liturgy, I was eager to see this.? For his first Holy Thursday Mass, Pope Francis went to a prison and washed the feet of the juvenile prisoners.? His actions show us that, as our Holy Father, he is here to serve.? But what is most special about Holy Thursday, is the institution of the Eucharist.? Christ at the Last Supper gives his flesh and blood to his closest friends.? Christ gives himself to us at every Mass, but this is where the first Eucharist began.

Good Friday is not a Mass, but a service.? It is the only time of the year that a Mass is not celebrated throughout the world.? If a family is able to participate in the Stations of the Cross and the Good Friday service, the day will truly feel penitential.? Abstaining from meat or some other mortification every Friday helps remind us that Christ sacrificed himself for us. But this and the other little things we have given up for Lent do not compare to Christ giving his life for us.?

Holy Saturday is a day of quiet and rest. It was not until I was in high school and served as a Master of Ceremonies for the Easter Vigil that I first saw the beauty of the church’s liturgy of celebrating the Resurrection but also the welcoming of people of all ages into the Catholic Church. Beginning the liturgy in darkness with only the fire from outside, to the full singing of the Gloria, to the Eucharist itself, the Easter Vigil is a Mass that will fill the soul.

It was my first Tridium serving all three days,? that I woke up blurry eyed on Easter Sunday.? Tired, exhausted and ready to rest, I went to the 7:30 am mass and celebrated Easter Morning.? I thought I must be out of my mind to go back to Mass for the fourth day, but something was calling me.? Barely awake, I made it to Mass. Listening to the Gospel, I heard “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified.? He has been raised; he is not here.? Behold the place where they laid him.? But go and tell his disciples and Peter.”

Do you remember the first Holy Triduum you attended?? Maybe this week will be your first.

Know that all OCA families and students are in my prayers this week.