Good Friday, Easter a celebration of the holiest days of the year

A former parishioner told me last week about an experience he had during Holy Week.

My associate pastor had contacted him earlier and asked him to be among the “apostles” whose feet would be washed during the Holy Thursday service. Having never attended a Holy Thursday service, the parishioner refused. He feared being embarrassed because he did not know the proper routine.

The man decided to attend the celebration of the Lord’s Last Supper to experience it firsthand. He told me it was the most moving church service he had ever attended. He continues to go back every year.

Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter are Christians’ most important holy days. Sadly, we do not have standing-room-only crowds when we celebrate these important events in Jesus’ life.

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us his body and blood and directed us to wash each others’ feet.

When Jesus said, “This is my body … This is my blood,” he was giving us himself as food for our journey. What he was really saying is, “It is I. Take me in. Let me be part of your life. I want a relationship with you. I am giving myself for you.”

So, when we receive our Lord in Holy Communion, we receive the total Lord whose body was broken for us, whose blood was poured out for us.

At the Last Supper, Jesus also got up, assumed the posture of a slave and washed the disciples’ feet.

That was unthinkable! Jesus was supposed to be the leader.

Peter spoke out, “No way, Lord!”

But Jesus knew what he was doing and continued to wash his disciples’ feet.

Jesus came to earth to serve. He calls us to that same ministry.

Prior to Jesus’ arrival, the poor, rejected and the sick had been told they had no place in God’s heart. However, Jesus walked into their lives and forever changed them.

Holy Thursday is about loving service to others. To share the Lord’s table is to be companions to one another on our life’s journey. Jesus’ service was faithful. He didn’t give up on anyone – including Judas. Following his lead, we should not give up on anyone either.

To Jesus, death itself was not too great a price to pay that others might live. To love was – and is – to give until there is nothing left to give.

Good Friday is the celebration of Jesus’ death on the cross. In that moment, he showed us just how much God loves us. Jesus accepted death – even death on a cross – out of love for each of us. He willingly made the ultimate sacrifice.

Good Friday is a time to remember the great love God has for us. It is not a time for wild parties or crawfish boils. It is a time to reflect on our response to what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. It is a time to take in a church service and realize how blessed we are to have such a loving God.

Easter is a time to celebrate the new life won for us in Jesus’ resurrection. This is our hope. This is what we live for. Jesus conquered death and returned to the Father to prepare a place for all of those who are faithful to his commandment to love one another.

As Christians, we are going somewhere. We have a purpose in life. We don’t need drugs or alcohol or other addictions to get us through life. Jesus invites us to follow him into everlasting life. All we have to do is say “yes” to his invitation. We can share in Christ’s victory over sin and death.

I urge all Christians to take part in their Holy Week services. May you have a blessed Easter!