Thomas Sunday "My Lord and My God"

These things did Thomas hold for real:
the warmth of blood, the chill of steel,
the grain of wood, the heft of stone,
the last frail twitch of blood and bone.
His brittle certainties denied
that one could live when one had died,
until his fingers read like Braille
the markings of the spear and nail.
May we, O God, by grace believe
and, in believing, still receive
the Christ who held His raw palms out
and beckoned Thomas from his doubt.

- Thomas Troeger, 1984

Noli me tangere....

These should have been here for Tuesday, but, it's been one of those weeks.
Since Tuesday, however, I've been contemplating the reason(s) why Jesus forbade Mary from touching him or clinging onto him. None of the typical reasons are very satisfying to me; but, I am having some very fruitful prayer time with the idea that he asked not to cling on to him because the wounds were still painful. What are the implications about a Resurrected Christ who is still willing to suffer pain in order to be in solidarity with us in our pain? I still need to think about that more, but it for sure directs my heart to a God who is love.

Music from Handel

Today is the 250th anniversary of Handel's death. Enjoy these selections from his work.

Christo Anesti! Alethos Anesti!! Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Holy Saturday- the Great and Blessed Sabbath: God has fallen asleep in the flesh

Something strange is happening - there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all”. Christ answered him: “And with your spirit”. He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light”.
- from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday

William Johnson- Lamentations

Good Friday

This last image is one of the stations of the cross commissioned by St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Norwalk, Connecticut, and dedicated in Lent 1995. Gwyneth Leech is the artist, and all of the stations may be seen here. These stations depict the suffering Christ in our own time, in the faces of prisoners of war, those being tortured by insurgents, etc. Pray with them, and pray for all victims of violence on this day, that the power of the Cross of Christ will bring redemption and peace to all in our world.

Triduum Contemplations

Maundy Thursday

Jesus Washing Apostle's Feet

Moravian Foot washing service

Last Supper- El Greco

Last Supper- Tinteretto

Judas' Kiss- 5th century mosaic

Betrayal- Luiz Coelho