These days of the Triduum are the most solemn, and yet the most filled with God's love, of any group of days we experience in the life of the church.  At Sawyer Memorial, we begin the Triduum with a Maundy Thursday service that includes a Pedilavium (foot-washing) and Holy Communion and ends with Tenebrae, a service of shadows.  Today, Good Friday, the church will be open for those who wish to keep vigil.  Tomorrow will be a day of stillness as much as it can be.  Sunday, we will begin joyful Easter services at 5:30 am at the Marina.  On that day, we will share a breakfast and offer our regular 9:30 worship service as well.  We will have spent a significant amount of time together, and we will be exhausted yet exhilarated. 


Practicing all of these events helps us live the joy of Easter morning with much greater understanding than we would have if we simply moved from the joy of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the joy of his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. 


That being said, Psalm 22 is part of the reading for today.  Both Matthew and Mark record the words of verse 1 as being spoken by Jesus from the cross.  I would ask you today, this day of all days, to  read the rest of the psalm.  How many Good Fridays have I thought about only verse 1 without getting to verse 22?  Was Jesus once again teaching and preaching, training and guiding...even from his own pain and despair?   Was Jesus asking us to remember the rest of the Psalm?   


I am glad that Psalm 22 was one of my readings today, but, as a continuation to the rest of this story, I can tell you that I will not wait until April 22 to read Psalm 23; I must read it Easter Sunday morning.  What a fit ending to the Triduum...a renewed appreciation of God's love!