Preparing to enter the Triduum

As we stand at the threshold of the Triduum, the Great Paschal Days of our Salvation: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday (the Great Vigil of Easter) there are somethings to hold in mind:

Many people alienated from the Church are unable to bare their souls before they experience acceptance, welcome, and love.

Sins are Christians' failure to respond to Christ's call to holiness, their infidelity to their baptismal pledge as members of the covenant community, and obstacles to the Church's mission of signing salvation to all the world. It can no longer be enough for the sinner to feel forgiveness by God; penitents must experience and strive for reconciliation with their brothers and sisters as sign of reconciliation with God.

The need for reconciliation is for the believer, Christ's challenge to his Church to be converted, and the support that is needed to meet that challenge is present in his Spirit. In every case, the power of that Spirit, reconciling us to God in Christ, offers both challenge and support. The future of a reconciling community is ours to shape.

The Church ... must work for global peace and justice as well as respond to individual's needs for healing. It must struggle to eradicate all forms of division and discrimination and transform sinful social structures - within itself first - as well as strengthen individuals to bear up under oppression and resist sinful influences. Community rituals must be a prophetic protest against social evils and a means of sensitizing participants to the part they play in causing, perpetuating, or tolerating such evils.

Sacramental revitalization requires a sense of the Church as a reconciled and reconciling community, a community in which all members are coresponsible for mission and worship.

from James Dallen's The Reconciling Community

The Gospel for Holy Wednesday

Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me," The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. John 13:21-32

who is betraying our Lord;
is it one of them,
those who sit close,
who enjoy his friendship,
who dips his morsal
into the wine?

who is betraying our Lord;
is it one of those,
who is so very faithful,
who say their prayers,
who eats the Bread
and drinks the Wine?

who is betraying our Lord;
is it truly me;
how does he know,
who told him?

failing to follow,
I succeed in denial.

you are unworthy to come
under my roof.

Wednesday in Holy Week

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect of the Day
BCP, page 220

The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 53

On the Reception of Guests

Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ,
for He is going to say,
"I came as a guest, and you received Me" (Matt. 25:35).
And to all let due honor be shown,
especially to the domestics of the faith and to pilgrims.

As soon as a guest is announced, therefore,
let the Superior or the brethren meet him
with all charitable service.
And first of all let them pray together,
and then exchange the kiss of peace.
For the kiss of peace should not be offered
until after the prayers have been said,
on account of the devil's deceptions.

In the salutation of all guests, whether arriving
or departing, let all humility be shown.
Let the head be bowed
or the whole body prostrated on the ground
in adoration of Christ, who indeed is received
in their persons.

After the guests have been received
and taken to prayer, let the Superior or someone
appointed by him sit with them.
Let the divine law be read before the guest
for his edification, and then let all
kindness be shown him.
The Superior shall break his fast for the sake of a guest,
unless it happens to be a principal fast day
which may not be violated.
The brethren, however, shall observe the customary fasts.
Let the Abbot give the guests water for their hands;
and let both Abbot and community
wash the feet of all guests.
After the washing of the feet let them say this verse:
"We have received Your mercy, O God,
in the midst of Your temple" (Ps.47:10).

In the reception of the poor and of pilgrims
the greatest care and solicitude should be shown,
because it is especially in them that Christ is received;
for as far as the rich are concerned,
the very fear which they inspire
wins respect for them.