The days of salvation

“These are the days”.  Those are the words from a popular song by the Cranberries years ago.  These three days are the days of our salvation: from the evening of Holy Thursday through the evening of Easter Sunday.  They are known as the Easter Triduum, a Latin word meaning three days.  The high point is the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night which presents the most spectacular and sacred liturgy of the year.

Holy Thursday: this is the night that Jesus instituted both the Eucharist and the priesthood.  He did this simultaneously when he said (to the Apostles), “do this in memory of me”.  I will tell the story tonight at Mass of the Lord’s Supper which is my greatest memory of my Dad.  Whenever we remember stories from the past, it makes the people and events present to us in our minds and hearts.  I’ll make the point that recalling the story about my father makes him spiritually present to me.  When we remember Jesus’ sacrifice (“do this in memory of me”) in the Eucharist, He becomes really and truly present by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Good Friday:  “my God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”  This is one of the “seven last words” of Christ from the Cross.  They are known as the greatest sermon ever.  Jesus says this one word to unite with anyone who feels abandoned, rejected, isolated, forgotten, or lonely.  From the first moment of his life to the last, He unites with all humanity in his human nature...   went to Adoration, He was just a few feet away. And, in Holy Communion, He was so close He was in me! And, it was (and is) Him - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. I was now in the presence of and getting to know the Light of the World.