Spring Break

School's Out



Although my first day of spring break was last Thursday, today feels like the first day of actual vacation. Being in the choir and a sacristan at my parish, the Triduum and Easter Sunday kept me quite busy.

Break will be a combination of having lunch with friends that I don't see much of during the school year and working around the house. The housework suffers during the school year too.
Lesson planning will wait until the end of the week. I worked hard at getting grading and recording grades done before break started, only a little to do at the end of the week. The slower pace and not getting up at 5:oo am are the best perks of having this week off.
Well better get back to work.

Happy Easter

Our Redeemer has risen from the tomb; let us sing a hymn of praise to the Lord our God, alleluia.
~ antiphon from morning prayer

Enjoy this season of new life and hope.

Hope is what sits by the window and waits for one more dawn, despite the fact that there isn't an ounce of proof in tonight's black, black sky that it can possibly come.
~ Joan Chittister, OSB

Good Friday

Jesus Christ loved us, and poured out His own blood for us to wash away our sins.
~antiphon from morning prayer

Today is a day that I have mixed feelings. I feel sadness that Jesus, who loved us so much had to be nailed to the cross to wash away our sins. Yet we still on a daily basis turn away from Him by continuing to sin. Then I feel joy that He did love us enough despite our sinful nature to die so that we would be saved. He even gave us His Body and Blood in the Eucharist so that we would be nourished.

Christ our salvation, you gave yourself up to death out of love for us,
- help us to show your love to one another.
~intercession from morning prayer

Holy Thursday

I have longed to eat this meal with you before I suffer.

~ Canticle of Zechariah

Lent is my favorite time of the liturgical year. It gives us time to reflect, pray, repent and, hopefully, grow spiritually with the outward support of the entire Church. Most parishes have added more programs and services to help us in our spiritual journey. There is not all of the commercialism of the Christmas season to distract us from what should be our main focus, Jesus.

Today we enter into the Triduum, the holiest part of the year. Tonight is the Mass of the Lord's Last Supper and then Jesus is processed to the altar of repose. Now we watch and wait!

"I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34)

I was reminded of the group Critical Mass over at Fr. V's blog Adams Ale . Here is one of their songs that I like and think is appropriate for today: