Holy Week & Easter at St. John’s

Dear friends in Christ,

My favorite image of the resurrection is the great Orthodox depiction of Jesus rising from the grave and standing astride the gates of hell. A small version of this icon hangs in the Chapel of the Resurrection at St. John’s. The Greek word for resurrection is anastasis, which carries the literal sense of an “uprising.” And that is what Easter is, that is what the resurrection is, an uprising, a revolt, against death and shame and fear. But it is not just Jesus’ victory. In nearly every version, the icon depicts Jesus pulling others out of hell as he rises. In the version in the Chapel, you can see Jesus pulling Adam out of his grave. In other depictions, Jesus brings up both Adam and Eve. There are others there as well, standing around Jesus, others who have just been raised with him. This uprising, then, isn’t just Jesus’ victory. All those who had died are seen rising from their coffins freed from the bonds of death. Those who were bound by shame and fear have been freed. Hell no longer has any power over them. Sin and death no longer have any power over them. Jesus brings each one of them into the uprising.

Jesus’ resurrection sparked a movement. After the resurrection, after his followers had been with him on the road and in the locked room and at the Sea of Galilee, after he had breathed on them, after the Holy Spirit had descended on them at Pentecost, they let go of the ways they had failed, they let go of their fear and shame, they stopped hiding, and they moved out to the furthest corners of their world telling anyone who would listen about this movement and bringing them into the uprising. Jesus’ disciples had  been freed from fear and shame. They had been set lose with the fire of God’s love, with the fire of God’s justice. They had been awakened by a vision of a new world, a world where the ancient promises of extravagant blessing would be poured out on all people, a world where swords would be beaten into plowshares, a world where the poor and hungry and meek would be blessed, a world where prisoners would be freed, the blind given sight, and the lame made to walk, a world where even those beholden to power and wealth could relinquish their privilege, give away that power and wealth for the good of others, and experience God’s grace in all its fullness.

The clergy and staff of St. John’s invite you to join us in observing Holy Week and the great mysteries of Easter. We begin on Palm Sunday by recalling Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We remember his commandment of love on Maundy Thursday. That day, we will have the traditional Maundy Thursday service with foot-washing and Holy Eucharist at 7 p.m. We “behold the wood of the cross on which hung the world’s salvation” on Good Friday at 12 noon. At 3 p.m., we will have the Stations of the Cross as well.

On Saturday, we will observe the liturgy for Holy Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the Resurrection. This brief prayer service marks the time between Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection in which human history hangs in the balance. At the Easter Vigil, we kindle new fire, hear the record of God’s saving deeds in history, welcome new members into the fellowship of the saints, and remember that we, too, have died and risen in Christ. And then we come together for the beauty and joy of Easter Sunday. In the great mysteries of Easter, we are invited to join the uprising. We are invited to rise with Christ to a new life free from fear and shame, filled with the Spirit of God, and empowered by God’s radical blessing. We are invited to share the news that this freedom, inspiration, and blessing are available to all people.