OVER THE CENTURIES, the church has
elaborated upon its experience of death and resurrection with dramatic
liturgies on the days leading up to Easter.
1) Palm Sunday
begins with a parade that serves as an “acted parable” with Jesus being welcomed
as a Jewish hero, but this high-spirited joyfulness rapidly changes into the
stark reality of Jesus’ death on the cross. The “Passion Gospel” readings are extremely long, and
recount in detail the events of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and execution.
2. MAUNDY
THURSDAY= Latin mandatum= “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I
have loved you.” John 15
A. FOOTWASHING
Jewish custom in
Jesus’ time would have the youngest person
present wash the hands of the eldar
who was to preside over the ceremonial meal. In John’s Gospel, Jesus reverses
the custom and proceeds himself to wash, not just the hands, but the feet of
his students.
This ritual was
known in the early Christian Church, but was neglected in most churches until
its revival in the 1960’s. Indeed, it is hard to justify NOT doing so, given
the words ascribed to Jesus in John 13: “So
if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I
have done to you.”
B. LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
There are many instances in the
gospels where Jesus uses the rituals of a shared meal to express the meaning of
his mission. The “Last Supper”, observed shortly before his arrest, has always
been regarded by the church as the basis for its Eucharistic practice. On this
occasion Jesus takes the ordinary components of a Jewish ceremonial meal- bread
and wine- and charges them with a new and very odd significance by referring to
them as his “body” and “blood.” Exactly what was meant by this obscure (and
even nonsensical) language has been debated over the centuries, but it is clear
that, after the Resurrection, the apostolic community regarded the Eucharist as
its principle and essential connection to the Risen Lord.
C. STRIPPING OF THE
ALTAR
Following the
Eucharist, the sanctuary is solemnly emptied of any symbolic object (crosses,
candles, sacred vessels, etc.) that is not too heavy to move. Once this is
accomplished, the church is left empty and dark, symbolic of the emptiness of
the world without the active presence of God.
D. Consecrated
bread and wine from this Eucharist is taken to an “Altar of Repose” in the back
of the church to be used for communion at the Good Frday Liturgy. Some may
choose to observe a “watch” at the Altar of Repose, in response to Jesus’
invitation to his disciples that they “watch with him for an hour.”
GOOD
FRIDAY
In the stark and empty church,
bereft of all its color and symbolism, the Good Friday Liturgy is observed as
it was in Jerusalem in the 3rd Century.
A. The Passion Gospel of John and other scriptures are read.
B. Solemn Prayer is offered for the church and the world.
C. A cross is brought into the church and honored.
The
Eucharist is not celebrated again until the Easter Vigil, but Holy Communion is
distributed from the sacrament reserved from Maundy Thursday .
WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTIAN WORSHIP, EASTER
VIGIL SAYS IT ALL…
The earliest Christians followed the
Jewish calendar, attending synagogue worship on Saturdays and gathering in
people’s homes for the Eucharist on Sundays (which was a work day, so they had
to start early, or finish late). The annual observance of Passover very early
became the principle day for baptism. The vigil service took all night, and
concluded with the First Eucharist of Easter as day was breaking.
The vigil as most Episcopalians
observe it today is nowhere near as rigorous an event, but it still seeks to
rehearse the entire drama of salvation through the use of light and dark, fire,
water, and the First Eucharist of Easter. Some of the most significant parts of
the Hebrew Scriptures are read. When the Gospel of the Resurrection is read,
all the lights come on, candles are lit, the organ blasts, and “alleluia” is
sung.
The Easter Vigil, and the
celebrative worship of Easter morning, seek to enact and express the profound
mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection. All the liturgies of Holy Week and
Easter arose out of the church’s experience
of the Risen Christ, and invite us to enter a place “behind” normal
expectations and even beliefs, a world where death no longer has dominion over
us, where disciples are transformed, and apostles sent out.
“How blessed is this night, when
earth and heaven are joined and man is reconciled to God.”
Exsultet chant, sung to bless the Paschal Candle during the Easter
Vigil.
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