The Sarced Triduum – Pascha I

Triduum Sacrum

Pascha I: Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Psalm 118; 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; Matthew 28:1-10

Are you scared during this pandemic? 

I expect we all are to some degree.

Afraid of catching the virus.  …of exposing others to it. Afraid of dying. Afraid for our children, our elderly parents and neighbors. Afraid of losing our jobs …worrying about how the rent, the car payments and the bills will be paid. Afraid you may have to close down your business and not be able to reopen. Afraid about how we will get thought this. Afraid…

What right now most scares you?

Fear makes us feel small, helpless and alone. We become overwhelmed and a lot of “old tapes” – old fears, start replaying in the background of our minds keeping us up at night. We are not good enough, not up to this, not smart enough, not…and then suddenly we are very afraid. That’s when fear can cause paralysis.  “The guards were shaken with fear …and became like dead men.” Or, fear can be an opportunity. The opportunity that fear offers us is to take a moment to pause. An invitation to stop. To be humble and ask for direction and courage. Fear is not something to be ashamed of or ignored. It is a healthy emotion created by God to slow us down and pay attention.

It is the perfect time to pray.

“Jesus, you were afraid in the garden of Gethsemane.  Do you remember?  Lord Jesus, now I’m afraid and before I go on, is my fear really from you?”

Throughout the scriptures whenever God, God’s messengers or Jesus say, “Do not be afraid!” They are not meaning that we put this powerful emotion behind us as if it didn’t exist or isn’t affecting us, but rather, God is signaling that this moment in our life is pivotal.

Consider when are we most afraid?

Isn’t it when we are facing giants like the young David?  aking big risks like Joseph in accepting Mary as his wife.  Going into battle like Israel before the Philistines. Having to say unpopular things like the prophets Elijah, Jeremiah and Paul. Being persecuted for the faith like Jean Donovan, Ita Ford, Oscar Romero, Dorothy Kazel and Maura Clarke in El Salvador. Traveling into uncharted territories like Abraham and Sarah. Facing new challenges in life like Simon Peter called to go fishing for people.  Painful parental situations like Hagar watching her child die of thirst.  Even hearing good news of great joy can be frightening with all its potentials like shepherds in the fields watching their flock by night.

Life is filled with many giants, risks, uncharted journeys and new challenges.  One could even argue that more than death, fear is our worst enemy.  So, “Yes, Lord God, “Do not be afraid” is easier said than done.” 

Like an enormous crackling bolt of lightning an angel descends upon the earth and a grave lies open.  We can become paralyzed like the guards “becoming like dead people” or like the women running from that gaping open mouth our fears can be mingled with anticipation and excitement, and we can become “fearful yet overjoyed.”

The resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, places before us a choice as to how we will live; not without fear but with fear; either paralyzed or filled with joy.  This Easter Sunday, the beginning of the Great Fifty Days of Easter to be crowned with Pentecost is uneasily quiet and queer because we are afraid.

It’s good to be scared sometimes; to pause, to pray, to humble our hearts and seek out God’s will.  Remember, it was in the midst of their fear – filled joy that the women encountered Jesus Christ.

His will?  “Do not be afraid. Go tell my sisters and brother…I am with you!”