From the Rector:  Easter Priorities

For the first time I can recall I recently have had some trouble remembering to add one or more “alleluias” to things during Mass – much to the delight of my colleagues. I think it is fair to say that I’m pretty reliable and regular as a celebrant. I’m not an automaton but my body, as it were, has a good liturgical memory both of word and gesture. As I write on Thursday morning of the Second Week of Easter, I think I’m on track now. No promises, but missing some of this stuff at weekday Masses and Offices has gotten my attention.

I feel guilty, in a sense, about these mistakes in part because it is possible to go to so many places and experience worship done without care or love. As pastor of this congregation I want every person who comes to our community, as member, friend or visitor to know we are trying to live out our Easter faith, especially during these fifty days of the Easter Season.

It’s pretty easy to celebrate and show off for the twelve days of Christmas. Everyone knows the song, to begin with. Our Christmas decorations and flowers will last for a couple weeks usually, and most people will get that its still Christmas. For the fifty days of Eastertide, we need other strategies.
 
The greatest way we might celebrate Easter is to try to sense new directions of the Holy Spirit in our lives, perhaps to let the joy of our faith show in our ordinary living in some new way. It says everything about the broader Christian tradition that more people enjoy Lent than Eastertide, that Ash Wednesday is the day when more people come into Saint Mary’s than any other day of the year. Okay, we’ve all been bad. Now what are we going to do about it?

At Saint Mary’s, the traditions of our worship can provide a starting point. We use almost all of the Easter options during all of the fifty days. At Morning Prayer, there is a canticle prescribed for Easter Week, “Christ our Passover” (Prayer Book, page 83), that is optional until the Day of Pentecost. We take the option. Only during Eastertide do we add “alleluia” to the acclamation at the breaking of the Bread, “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” And despite the temptations of a tuna fish sandwich from the deli by the rectory, I make myself eat meat on Fridays.

I don’t remember the name of the priest or how many years it’s been since I heard a confessor say to me at a point when I had come to a new understanding about my sins, “Now, what are you going to do d