“Death and life have contended in that stupendous combat: The Prince of Life, who died, reigns immortal.” – The Easter Sequence: Victimae Paschali Laudes
As the beautiful Holy Days of the Triduum unfold before us, we enter into the Paschal Mystery and reflect upon Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection:
The Passover meal.
Bread broken and shared.
“This is my body.”
A cup of wine.
“This is my blood.”
Washing of feet.
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
Agony in the garden. Sweating blood.
“Not my will but yours be done.”
Betrayed with a kiss. Arrested.
Denied.
Denied.
Denied.
Interrogated. Ridiculed. Beaten.
“…to testify to the truth.”
Crowned with thorns.
Whipped. Scourged.
“Crucify him!”
“Crucify him!”
Carrying the Cross.
Down on the ground.
Helped by Simon.
Down on the ground.
Women weeping.
Down on the ground.
Stripped naked. Shame.
9:00 A.M.
Nailed to the Cross.
The King of the Jews.
Mockery and jeering.
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Noon.
Darkness.
“I thirst.”
3:00 P.M.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
“It is finished.”
Earthquake.
Temple veil torn in two.
A pierced heart.
“Truly this man was the Son of God!”
Buried in the tomb.
Descended into Hell.
On the third day he rose again
victorious from the dead.
The strife is o’er, the battle done;
Now is the Victor’s triumph won;
Now let the song of praise be sung,
Alleluia!
Through it all, He calls us to follow Him into the fray, bearing the banner of truth and love. He challenges us to love one another in the same way that He loved us; not by fleeing death, but by embracing it. For, if we share in His Cross, then we will also share in His victory.
To learn how, let’s take a cue from Saint Francis of Assisi. According to his biographer Saint Bonaventure, Francis was horrified by lepers. Yet, knowing that he must “first conquer himself if he wanted to become a knight of Christ,” he found the grace even to kiss the lepers he met upon the road. Following his lead, let us enter the battle against our own selfishness and embrace those we detest, so that the Prince of Life may reign — and love, win the war.
O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! We give you thanks, O God, for you have given us victory through the death and resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
