"This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
Rejoicing on Good Friday? Today is a day of quiet reflection, of prayer, of entering into the mystery of the Lord's suffering and death on the Cross. Why do we rejoice? It's not because we have the day off and a long weekend, and it's not because it gives us an extra day to do our Easter cooking and cleaning for our party on Sunday. In fact, for those of you reading this who had those as your plans, CANCEL them! So often, especially in our American culture, we become attached to an agenda, and unfortunately it is most often not one of prayer and the Sacramental life, but an agenda of secularism and worldly attachment. I doubt that a large majority of the world, if I may be so bold, when reflecting on our American culture, would describe us using any kind of word that even resembles contemplative.
The Triduum (Holy Thursday Evening - Easter Sunday Evening) challenges us to make an active commitment for 1 weekend to leave the secularism of the world behind and enter into the Sacred in a profound way. The question is will we do it? Everyone is at a different place in their human development. They have different personalities, different preferences, and are at different places in their spiritual lives. The way we all enter into these Sacred Mysteries to some extent will have little nuances. There is a great universality to these days as well because they extend far beyond time and space.
But back to rejoicing! Often when someone is thankful for something they are also very joyful in what it is they are thankful for. The word Eucharist means Thanksgiving, so it seems natural that after the celebration of the Lord's Supper we participated in yesterday (Holy Thursday), rejoicing would follow. I know some of you are thinking "hold on a minute little lady, you are jumping the gun here - we rejoice on Easter." This is very true, we rejoice on Easter, and our rejoicing extends beyond the particular day or season of Easter because of God's love for us!
Lent and the Easter Triduum are my favorite part of the year. Really, when you think about it, this beautiful time we find ourselves in is like a grand orchestra, but instead of musicians and instruments, the orchestra is comprised of all God's wonderful works in Salvation - history through the Old Testament, the Church's traditions, and the Incarnation, leading up to the magnificent crescendo of today - the music changes and surges upwards and just when you think it's over - it's NOT. That's why I rejoice today, because without Jesus' suffering and death on the Cross there would be no Easter! I rejoice because when I gaze upon the Cross I see a man, my God, my Jesus, who loves me with such an indescribable love that He died for me. That kind of love overwhelms my heart and fills it with a deeply rooted gratitude and joy. On the Cross Jesus exhibits His great love for all of us, and that love demands rejoicing in.
How will you take time away from the world today? Will you read the Scriptures? Will you teach or pray with your children? Will you pray or attend the Stations of the Cross? Will you have silent prayer or spiritual reading? Will you observe silence between the hours of 12-3 to reflect on Jesus' suffering and death on the Cross? Will you fast (just a friendly reminder Good Friday is an obligatory fast and abstinence day)? Will you attend the service and venerate the Cross?
Today also begins the Divine Mercy Novena. Each day of the Novena has a different intention which is so needed and important in our Church today and in the light of the New Evangelization. Maybe this Novena can be a part of your Triduum and Easter celebrations.
May the Lord abundantly bless your Good Friday and Easter! "For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have Mercy on us and on the whole world."
Written by Nicolette
