This day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is an in-between day, a liminal time between where we are and all we desire.
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the comedy
Our natural instinct would be to call a Good Friday reflection THE Tragedy but the classical definition of dramatic comedy (from 500 years before Christ) gives us a broader perspective.
Think of the stage comedies and tragedies which follow the understanding of dramatic genres in ancient Greece two thousand years before Shakespeare.
Here we learn that dramatic tragedy is drama ends in despair, desolation, death, or (even better), all three.
at table
When I was a kid all family meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner (or dinner and tea as we called the midday and evening meal) were eaten at the kitchen dining table.
Sunday evening was an exception. Cheese on toast (Mousetraps) or saveloys (with toast and tomato sauce) made an informal meal eaten in comfort in the living room, perhaps watching the Wonderful World of Disney or Country Calendar.
a new venture
I understand Judas and I look forward to meeting him when I get to heaven.
He was not a bad man (that perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor), but he often put his own interests first, (helping himself to the common purse) and wanted to be in the “in” group (what will you give me if I hand him over to you).
going where ?
There is a bad old joke that suggests that giving a homily is the art of twisting whatever the preacher wants to say to fit the scriptures.
the players
Yesterday’s Palm Sunday Liturgy with the reading of the Passion is a bit of a marathon requiring stamina of body, mind and soul. There are dozens of players in the account of the Passion of Jesus.
on the journey
Today’s palm branch procession, and reading of the passion of Jesus signals our move into Holy Week.
It is helpful to see these days before Easter as a week of retreat. While we continue our family and work routines, our focus is guided beyond.
In these days let us look together to Jesus.
yes to laughter
I’ve been moving about a bit in recent weeks, across the country and further afield. I don’t enjoy the travel since planes are not designed for people of my height. But I love being with the people I end up with after a journey of any length.
the seduction
Don’t get down when you hear today’s first reading.
Jeremiah is having a bad day. He’s a bit overwhelmed with the negative response he is getting when he passes God’s message to the people. In short, Jeremiah is having a Jeremiad.
I AM
I try not to repeat these daily Lenten posts year to year but there are times when the same scriptures pop up annually and I realise that I can’t write it better than I did last year. Today is one such day, not only because of the thought I share but even more in the comments that are added by FFF readers. Today I have left some of last year’s comments helping us to appreciate the power of today’s readings.
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living in colour
A few years ago I picked up a John August Swanson work – only a print unfortunately, but still full of power, and colour.
So much colour.
Today’s post-resurrection encounter with Jesus reminds me of this great Swanson work “The Big Catch.”
These fishermen previously endured a mere existence in black and white, getting through each day, their regular routines dictated by the demands and fears of friends and foes.
let’s get physical
Note the physicality of today’s gospel reading.
Physical features (hearts, hands, feet, mouth, eyes) abound and emotional realities are strong (peace, alarm, fright, agitation, doubt).
resurrection energy
I had planned to continue the daily reflections through this Easter Week but I’ve already missed Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday and now it’s early morning on Easter Wednesday. Thank you to those who emailed with “where are you”, “what happened” and “I haven’t had a FFF email this week.” Thank you for your enthusiasm and for keeping me on my toes.
Easter people ?
There is a great old Easter greeting: “We are an Easter people” to which hearers respond “and Alleluia is our song!” I love this, and if I see you in this Easter Week, this Octave of Easter Sundays, you are welcome to greet me in this way. The reason I need to be reminded that we are an Easter people is that I too often reduce the Easter life we are offered to ideas and categories, words and formulas, customary ways of thinking and acting.
experiencing
Consider the range of emotions that the disciples of Jesus moved through over the days of his final suffering and his crucifixion and resurrection. Such extremes of feeling cannot be imagined or pondered with disinterest. They must be experienced.