Deb on the run - Lent is almost over...Holy Week is coming

Deb on the run

Mar. 30, 2007

Lent is almost over...Holy Week is coming

Posted in Church life and general ramblings of a Spiritual nature

I'm trying to finish my Daily Lenten reading challenge by Sunday or Monday. I'm going to skip Leo the Great's Letter #28 and sermon on the Feast of Nativity. Next week will be full. Church everyday - sometimes twice. The crazy mixed up days with Vespers in the morning and Matins in the evening as the church prepares us for the upside down, out of time, moments of His suffering and Resurrection.

Tomorrow is Lazarus Saturday with a Liturgy in the morning celebrating the pre-figuring of Christ's triumph over death. This along with Palm Sunday is a 2 day celebration bridging Lent with Holy Week.

"When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus was already dead four days.... The four day burial underscores the horrible reality of death. Man, created by God in His own image and likeness, is a spiritual-material being, a unity of soul and body. Death is destruction: it is the separation of the soul and body....This mystery of death is the inevitable fate of man fallen from God and blinded by his own prideful pursuits."

Services of Lazarus Sat. and Palm Sunday
Introduction by Fr. Paul Lazor
pg.5

Then Palm Sunday with procession of the Palms and willows branches. In Eastern Europe, palms were not available to the early church so the tradition of using willow branches began and is still used today.

"This day [Palm Sunday] together with the raising of Lazarus are signs pointing beyond themselves to the mighty deed and event which consummate Christ's earthly ministry. The time of fulfillment was at hand. Christ's raising of Lazarus points to the destruction of death and the joy of resurrection which will be accessible to all through His own death and resurrection. His entrance into Jerusalem is a fulfillment of the messianic prophesies about the king who will enter his holy city to establish a final kingdom...

Finally, the events of these triumphant two days are but the passage to Holy Week: the "hour" of suffering and death for which Christ came. Thus the triumph in a earthly sense is extremely short-lived."

Services of Lazarus Sat. and Palm Sunday
Introduction by Fr. Paul Lazor
pp 7-8

By raising Lazarus from the dead before thy Passion,
Thou didst confirm the universal resurrection, O Christ God!
Like the children with the palms of victory, we cry out to
Thee: O Vanquisher of Death!
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.

Troparion sung for both
Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday