Aren't You Glad You're Liturgical? I am always happy to be liturgical all year round, but there are moments when I specifically thank God for being a part of the traditions (both liturgical and theological) of the Church Catholic. One of those moments is Holy Week. For non-catholics, Holy Week is merely another week in April; for catholics it is the heart of our worship, the time when we are able to experience in even a small way, the life, suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord. All worship in spirit and truth is holy, but Holy Week represents the holiest of even the holy. Those Christians who don't have Holy Week often find themselves seeking ways to find meaning during this time of year. Many times these attempts re-invent the wheel (and a poorer version of it), sometimes they are helpful, but not particularly meaningful, and occasionally they are downright ridiculous. In any case, none of them has anything on the traditional Holy Week festivities. Some churches do Jewish seder meals. Although this is admirable and a great teaching point of history, it isn't specifically Christian. And to point out something obvious: Christians aren't Jewish. Also, the Easter Vigil is based on the Jewish Passover celebrations, but does so in a Christian context, from the reciting of our stories to the meal (the Eucharist). So, while seders and the like are certainly worthwhile, they tend to (because of their very essence as Jewish) leave out a specific part of the faith: Jesus. And for those churches who do add Jesus to it, I say "good for you!" but in that case why not do the better and more Christian Easter Vigil? One example of the ridiculous happened recently in Pennsylvania. The church, an Assemblies of God one, wanted to make the point that Easter is not about bunnies and eggs. Good so far. To show this they brought out a person dressed as the Easter bunny and "whipped" her. Then they stomped eggs and showed a drunken man and self-mutilating woman. Very, very bad. Not just because it would scare the wits out of children but because it's just plain stupid as far as making a point goes. But it comes from the inherent weakness in a non-liturgical church. Anyone who went through the Easter Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil would easily grasp that Easter is far more than bunnies and eggs. And they'll learn it through a meaningful positive experience, not a silly skit that shows you what Easter is not (negative). Unfortunately, many contemporary churches preach and expect church to be so fun and entertaining that they have no language or way to show that the Gospel is not always fun and entertaining. In fact, the Gospel is rarely either of these, but it will always be meaningful and life changing. That's why the liturgy has endured since the beginning. It cogently and powerfully presents the Gospel in a meaningful way. Thank God I am a liturgical Christian. I am so blessed.