Last week I indicated that I would dedicate the next two columns to the upcoming Easter Triduum, which begins Holy Thursday evening and ends on the evening of Easter Sunday.  I must say that I feel overwhelmed as I try to speak about the Triduum and do it justice in two columns.  Since it is impossible to go in to the many unique aspects of the liturgies of the Triduum, perhaps I need to state some things in general about the Triduum, and its liturgies that may surprise you.  Firstly, the liturgical assembly during the Triduum is NOT engaged in acts of historical reconstructions that recreate scenes in places like the "Upper Room", "Calvary" and "at the tomb".  These liturgies are not meant to lead us to "imagine" ourselves being actually present at these events.  It is precisely because the events of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection are historical, that they cannot be repeated or reenacted.  What once happened in "history" has passed over into "mystery".  We celebrate primarily NOT what once happened to Jesus, but what is now happening among his faith-filled people.  We celebrate God taking possession of our hearts at their deepest core, recreating us as a new community broken for the world's life - rich in compassion, steadfast in hope, and fearless in the search for justice and peace.  (I took excerpts from the Ordo which speaks about the Triduum to instruct you on the Triduum).

The whole of the Triduum is meant to connect our lives where we are and where we need to be going - to that of Jesus and transforming power of His life, death and resurrection.  The Triduum has a "power" that can strengthen our witness of Jesus as Lord and bring us a peace that comes from faith in the Crucified and Risen Lord.  Come experience it!