BIBLE STUDY #39
TRIDUUM AND EASTER
April 21- April 24, 2011


Gospel readings:

• Holy Thursday: John 13:1-15
• Good Friday: John18:1 – 19:42
• Holy Saturday: Matthew 28:1-10
• Easter Sunday: John 20: 1-9

Reflection

Reproducing all of the gospel readings would be too cumbersome, so I have listed the gospel references for each day. You can look it up.

We hear the word ‘Triduum’ a lot this time of year. What does it mean? It is a fancy word that means 3 days and it begins on Holy Thursday and ends on Easter Sunday. But, isn’t this 4 days? Yes, but it depends on when you begin and end. The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the evening on Holy Thursday and concludes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday, which is actually only 3 days. The high point is the celebration of the Easter Vigil.

If you are fasting during Lent and wondering when Lent ends, it ends on Holy Thursday evening. However, there are some who continue their fast until the Easter Vigil.

We tend to split up all the events of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, into individual ‘events’, as if they were no connection between them. We also tend to think in the sense of history, that we are re-enacting these events. For example, we do this with the Living Stations of the Cross. Another example is having a Seder.

Sometimes we try to identify ourselves with a certain character. Am I like Judas? Do I betray friendships and those I love? Am I like Peter? Can I be trusted? Am I like the women and the Beloved Disciple who follow Jesus all the way to the cross? What would I do if I were in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus when the Romans arrived? Would I flee?

Instead of looking at the Holy Week events as history, or even placing ourselves in this history, I ask you to look at them as mystery. In my mind, it’s not enough to know what Jesus did; more importantly, what is he doing for me now and what will he do in the future? How is God’s mysterious love changing and affecting my life?

Instead of reflecting on the scriptures, I am going to give you some ideas for meditation and prayer during this holiest of weeks.

HOLY THURSDAY

There are 3 principal mysteries contained in this celebration that should be included in the homily: the eucharist, the priesthood, and love.

Eucharist

Jesus gave us this great gift of Eucharist the night before he died to strengthen us on our own pilgrim journey through life. He left us his body and blood, his soul and divinity in the form of bread and wine. We receive this special gift at communion. The Lord is also present in other ways at Mass: 1) we believe that God is present in the proclamation and hearing of God’s holy and living word in scripture; 2) we also pray that God touch the heart of the preacher so that he brings God’s presence to others;.3) we believe that God is present in the community. Jesus says that where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, he is present.

We need to accept and believe as a matter of faith that the bread and wine we receive at Mass is the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. When we do this, I think we realize what a great gift we have in the eucharist, and we come to a better understanding of God’s great live for us. Personally, I feel closer to God and strengthened in my faith and Christian commitment when I receive communion. While personal prayer is important, I think sacraments are the essence of our ongoing relationship with Christ. I have been to services in other Christian churches. They can be lively and faith filled, but when they are over, I feel like I missed something if there is no eucharist.

One of the reasons I like doing this internet bible study is that it puts me much more in contact with the meaning and the blessing of scripture. The more I study it, the more I see God in the words of scripture, and feel God in my heart. Scripture is a living word, and sometimes I am blessed to see passages in a different light. I hope this bible study opens you up to God’s presence in scripture, if only in a little way.

Questions to ponder: What do you believe about the eucharist? When have I felt God’s love through the eucharist? Am I fully committed to weekly Mass attendance? When at Mass do I fully participate? Do I pray with Scripture?

Priesthood

The night Jesus instituted the eucharist, he also instituted the priesthood. He told his apostles to ‘do this in memory of me’. We priests stand in the place of Jesus to mediate God’s presence in word and sacrament. We not only bring God to people, I hope we also bring people to God. It is both a tremendous responsibility and a tremendous joy to be able to serve people in this way.

God will not be outdone in generosity. He promised to repay us 30, 60, and 100 fold for whatever we do. I certainly have felt God’s many blessings in this way, as priests usually do. I feel that I get back much more than ii give. That’s why I’m astounded that there are more vocations. I think if young men realized what a powerful and grace filled life comes with a vocation, there would be more vocations than we need.

We priests need all of you to pray for us so we can carry out our mission to spread the good news.

Questions to ponder: How has a priest touched my life in the past? Do I pray for priests? Have I ever encouraged someone to consider a vocation?

Love

This theme of love is dramatized in the washing of the feet. Imagine the Son of God, the Christ, the Messiah, getting down on his hands and knees and washing feet, which was the job of a slave. Jesus shows us that, in its basic and truest form, love is an action. What a great example to us: loving each other through humbly serving each other.

Questions to ponder: Do we let our inflated ego get in the way of loving each other? What are other ways I can ‘wash the feet’ of others? Am I a good steward of my time, talent, and treasure?

GOOD FRIDAY

Suffering is a part of everyone’s life; it just can’t be avoided. It’s not a matter of if, but of when, how much, and how long. Jesus certainly had his own share of suffering, his passion being the biggest of his sufferings. It also must have hurt when those closest to him didn’t understand him; when those who opposed to him tried to get him; and when people came for physical healing but ignored the spiritual healing.

But think about these things: Jesus had his own share of illnesses; it must have pained him to live in an occupied country; he must have suffered when work was scarce; and he must have suffered when those he loved became sick and/or died, like his foster father (and our patron) Joseph.

Even in the midst of life’s troubles, Jesus remained true to his vocation. He only asked for relief from suffering if it was his Father’s will. Even knowing the terrible death he was to endure, he kept going out of love for his Father and love for us.

One of the reasons Jesus is believable to me is because he understands. He has been through the same things as we have and then some. Faith tells us that all is not lost, that we can find hope in the midst of even great suffering.

When I was the catholic chaplain at Chilton Hospital, I had been visiting this one man whenever he came in for chemo and radiation. He would be in the hospital for a few days at a time to receive his treatment. I made it a habit to stop and talk for a few minutes.

As we became friendlier, he opened up to me about his illness. He told me one day that he was prepared for whatever lay in store for him, we prayed together for god’s will.

One day I went to visit him and his wife and adult daughter were in the room. His wife looked at me, smiled, and said, “We get to take him home today.” He looked at me, rolled his eyes, and said in a loud voice, “I’m going home to die.” It turns out that there was nothing further the doctors could do.

His wife and daughter were speechless. They looked to me for a reply. I said, “Well, when you get to heaven, would you pray for that priest who visited you all those times?”
He looked at me, smiled, and said, “OK.”

This man was facing the biggest crisis of his life in a calm and faith filled way. He looked to God in his trouble and was rewarded with God’s grace and peace. I have no doubt that this man is in eternal life. Not because of anything he did, but of what Jesus did for us.

Whenever things get tough, I think of this man and his memory is greatly inspiring.

Questions to ponder: When things get tough, do I turn to God? Can I join my sufferings to those of Christ for the salvation of the world? Am I a faithful follower of Jesus regardless of the cost?


HOLY SATURDAY/EASTER SUNDAY

Jesus is risen! Alleluia! The tomb is empty. The price of our sins is paid. Death is conquered. In John’s Gospel, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb. She didn’t recognize him in his resurrected body. He still had a physical body, he could eat (but didn’t have to), he had flesh and bones, but he was different: he wasn’t bound any longer by space and time.

The power of the resurrection transformed Jesus and he appeared in all his glory. He is alive and never to die again. He suffered died, and rose from the dead, for each one of us individually. He wants to resurrect us from our faults, failings and sins. He wants to change us bit by bit into a holy person.

I saw a very moving skit at a youth retreat about Calvary. The soldiers marched Jesus up to Calvary, and couldn’t find the nails. Jesus joins in the search for the missing nails. He is the first to find them. What does he do? Throw them away or hide them? No, he gives them to the soldiers.

That’s how much God loves us and wants to be a part of our lives. He is patiently waiting for us to turn to him so he can transform our lives.

Did you ever hear the legend of the folded napkin? Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!'

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

Was that important? Absolutely!

Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because.....

The folded napkin meant -
''I'm coming back!''

He is Coming Back!

In fact, he is already here. He comes to us whenever we open our hearts to his transforming love.

On this Easter Sunday, this great day of salvation, I ask you to simply turn your life over to the Lord. It doesn’t matter how long you have been away, it doesn’t matter if you are lukewarm in your faith, it doesn’t how much or how often you have sinned, it only matters if you accept Jesus into your heart.

No fancy prayer is needed. No theology is required. You can do this on your own. He is waiting. Just pray something simple: “Jesus, I’m sorry for all the things I have done wrong and ask you forgiveness. I pray that the saving, transforming, and healing power of your love can be a part of my life to transform me to be the disciple you want me to be. Amen. “

No matter who you are, we invite you to be a part of our faith community. God accepts us for who we are, and it is only his love that can transform us into saints. We accept you too and want you to worship with us and be a part of church. Come, join us, and let God transform your life into something you just can’t imagine.

Only one question left to ponder: Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?


Fr. Phil