Easter

Three of us stood at the back of the sanctuary, waiting. The first service had seemed incomplete...insufficient. A key element was missing, so we waited for the opening hymn of the second service.

The sounds of brass, tympani, and voices flowed through the sanctuary and washed over me. Yes! This was what I needed. This was Easter. Christ is risen!

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Charles Wesley

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where's thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

"Ours the cross, the grave, the skies..." This is Easter.

Good Friday

We held a Tenebrae service at our church. In the service we remember the seven last words of Jesus, with the reading of Scripture, a short meditation, and a choral presentation. At the beginning of the service, eight candles were lit on the altar, one for each of the Words, and the eighth representing Jesus. After each meditation, the speaker goes to the altar and extinguishes a candle. At the end, the Christ candle is extinguished and everyone leaves in silence.

This year I was praying the Rosary during the moments of silence. At the end of the service I had the last Mystery of Sorrow left, which is the Crucifixion. As I sat in the darkness reflecting on this Mystery, I started weeping. It wasn't any particular thought. No profound awareness. Just the weeping as I finished praying. Then the tears ended, and I left the sanctuary in silence.

Maundy Thursday

Usually at this time I would be on my way to church for our Maundy Thursday service, but I am home-bound this year (somewhat under the weather and keeping a depressed beagle company). Following the service, several of us would get dropped off at the EDSA shrine to join the pilgrimage to Antipolo. Every year on Maundy Thursday there is a pilgrimage (the "Alay Lakad") from the Church of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo to the Antipolo Cathedral. Watching this mass movement of people is amazing enough, but becoming part of this throng...absolutely incredible! I feel sorry for the people standing on the sidelines handing out tracts. They really ought to take a chance and plunge in. The walk is fun, exhilarating, deeply spiritual, ever-changing community. Your feet might hurt, your body might be weary, but an energy flows through you from all the people around you. You are caught up in something larger than yourself.

I've participated in the "Alay Lakad" several times, and each time creates a special place in which I am privileged to walk.