Scott Cairns, reflecting on Holy Saturday in light of his adopted Eastern Orthodox tradition, describes Jesus’ descent into hell to rescue Adam and Eve and all those who had died before his arrival. Many of us know the line “he descended into hell” from the Apostles’ Creed. Interestingly, that line is not found in Scripture, nor was it in the earliest versions of the Creed (“he descended to the dead” is in the earliest texts), but even by the time of Augustine (who himself had a hard time explaining it) the “harrowing of hell” was an established part of the tradition. I’ll confess that...

We are used to thinking of Good Friday as a day of solemnity, even of grief, as we ponder the sacrifice Jesus makes for us with his death on the cross. But have you ever thought of it as a day for celebration? If you take care in reading John’s Gospel – the Passion narrative appointed for Good Friday (the Synoptic accounts are read on Palm/Passion Sunday) – you’ll realize quickly that celebration is probably more the mood John invites then solemn grief. Because, according to John, Jesus’ death is no tragic accident but rather the culmination of Jesus’ earthly mission to rescue a fallen humanity from the...

Thursday of Holy Week is called “Maundy Thursday.” The name “Maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum,” or “command,” and is the first word of the phrase “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos” – in English, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another.” Jesus, speaking to his disciples, continues, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34). Jesus says these words during his final meal with his disciples. For this reason, worship on Maundy Thursday is almost always a communion service and...

Note: The following reflection is adapted from an email I sent out to the rostered leaders on the LTSP email list thanking them for their pastoral work at this important, and busy, time of the year. If you’d like to receive news, updates, and these occasional reflections, you can sign up here. Why Is This Week Called “Holy”? That’s a reasonable question, when you consider how odd it is to name this week “holy,” a week filled to the bring with betrayal and desertion, suffering and abuse, and, finally, the death of an innocent who cries aloud in despair. So why in the world has the Church decided to call...