Passiontide:
In the ordering of the liturgical year, this past Sunday, known as Passion Sunday, marked the beginning of the two week period before Easter known as Passiontide. Since the early third century, even before the season of Lent had fully developed into the forty day season we currently observe, the ancient church dedicated the two weeks prior to Easter focused intently on our Lord's crucifixion.
With Passion Sunday comes a movement in the daily and weekly lectionary readings away from the pointed reflection on personal penance and into a greater and more intense meditation on the Cross of Christ.
One of the more noticeable elements of Passiontide, as you likely observed this past Sunday, is that all many of the holy items around the church are veiled. Beginning on the eve of Passion Sunday in the Western Church, the crucifixes, statues, and icons in churches are veiled or draped in purple or black cloth as an outward sign of the Church's inward sorrow and mourning as we enter into the shadow of the Cross. This custom also vividly reminds us of the final words of the Passion Sunday Gospel lesson: "Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple."
Beginning next week, on Palm Sunday (3/29), the Gospel lessons for the daily services of Holy Communion take us through the full account of our Lord's crucifixion from each of the Gospels. This public and liturgical reading allows our minds and souls to encounter and contemplate our Lord's passion and sacrifice with great depth and clarity as we move toward the holy mystery of Good Friday.
Through the liturgical elements of Passiontide and Holy Week the Church invites us to enter into the most solemn time of the year - to order and prioritize our time such that we would truly consider the Cross. Yet, as Christians living in this world, we recognize that the secular world does not stand still. With work and other honorable responsibilities it may be pastorally understandable that some are unable to attend all of the services of Holy Week. If this is the case then I invite you and urge you to prioritize, to the greatest extent we are able, the services of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday that lead us most somberly and joyfully into Easter.
On an additional note: as you may notice on the Holy Week schedule above, we will again keep Easter Vigil this year. The Vigil service for Easter is one of the more unique services of our church year. It is a long and moving service that begins outside with the lighting of the New Fire and continues with extended readings, the blessing of the baptismal font and Paschal Candle, and culminates in the first communion of Easter. The vigil service begins at sunset - 7:30 PM.
For all those who are able to attend the vigil we invite you back again on Easter Day for the continuation of our joyful Easter celebration.
* The full Holy Week schedule can be found in the graphic above or in the 'Lenten Guide' at the entry table near the bulletins.*
