Whoa!

We have set services for Holy Week, and I believe God sets our paths, if we will follow.  With free will, we human beings take a lot of detours, but like a wonderful GPS, God recalibrates all the time.  Really... All The Time.  And we still get there.  Amazing.

I will attend the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil services (the Triduum) at my home parish of St. Mark*s, Glen Ellyn.  I will see what words come throughout.   What*s funny to me is that I set out to write one reflection for each service.  Then I thought: there should also be one for each time in between.  But really, I have no idea what I will write.  Part of the plan seems to be that I don*t get to measure or count:  how many reflections, how many clients, how many hits this blog gets.  I*m not in charge of the counting.  So... do not take mine as a traditional rendering of Holy Week.

I love the Stations of the Cross Malcolm Guite has written in sonnet form, lovely braided sonnets, a crown of sonnets.  If you haven*t encountered them: Please Do.    http://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/author/malcolmguite/   

There are also wonderful reflections/meditations people have written/preached on all three services, and the parts thereof:  footwashing, Jesus* commandment to love one another, Jesus* seven last words on the cross.  There is so much to preach on, so much to meditate upon.  This is a rich, very rich, thin time, particularly for those of us in liturgical traditions.  Join us in the walk/ride through the Triduum.

Before the beginning

Of the roller coaster ride

That begins the Triduum,

This early morning before it all begins

I know there will be several things to write.

I do not know how many.

I figure they will not be separated

Into traditional parts.

I have never really, after all,

Been traditional.

I will not know until I get there

With Jesus.

I will not know,

Even as I know so well

The given pieces

To walk through.

This year

I am somehow being carried

On a track which will take me

Where it wills.

I do not know if Jesus is the roller coaster

Or the track.

I suspect the track.

Do not ask me how this fits into anyone*s concept

Of the Trinity,

Much less my own.

Even as I know I will be carried,

I know

This year will be different

And the same.

Every year it is different

And the same.

This year will include that roller coaster

On a track I have not laid.

This year will include

The barely budding clematis in front.

The ducks out back

Will probably be along for the ride,

Hopefully in their own car.

I know I will see it all

Through the forsythia

I have never seen before

This year.

All who go with me will wave

Lemon yellow forsythia.

Forsythia will line the tracks

Jesus has made.

This year I believe it will all end

In forsythia.