April 13: Palm Sunday

Waiting for the light

Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14—23:56

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the most significant liturgical week for Catholics around the world: Holy Week. The early half of the week appears to be business as usual, but parish administrators and ministers are kicking into high gear as they prepare for the Triduum, the pinnacle of which is the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.

This is a very special day on the Catholic liturgical calendar. It is the day when Catholics transform their great anticipation for Easter into an awe-inspiring and intensely moving celebration that retells the story of salvation. It is also the day that Catholics welcome new members into full communion with the church.

At Easter Vigil services across the world, adults who have gone through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults will attend their first full Mass. They will get baptized, confirmed and will receive the Eucharist for the first time.

For most of the day, however, Holy Saturday is quiet. This day, of course, follows Good Friday. Many Catholics hold this space as a time to remember the day that Jesus was crucified.

The disciples followed Jesus, believing he was the Messiah. Then, he was taken from them in the most painful way imaginable. He was crucified, died and was buried. Just like any ordinary person who died, he was simply gone. Everything changed for the disciples, who were likely feeling a mix of emotions: confused, heartbroken and unsure of what was coming next.

Because of this, Holy Saturday is sometimes spoken of as a representation of the liminal times in our lives. These are the times in life when everything is about to change, but we do not yet know how. In this liminal space, we often feel anxious, insecure and maybe even a little scared. We also have no control in this space. It is a time when we want to act, but we do not know what we are supposed to do. It is not a pleasant place to be.

Yet, it is on this night that the Catholic Church invites new adult members into full communion. At first glance, this does not make sense. Easter seems like a more fitting liturgical season for this. It is a joyful season that celebrates the Resurrection — Christ’s triumph over sin and death. There may be no better an introduction to the church than being baptized, confirmed and given the Eucharist on Easter. Yet, we choose Holy Saturday for this special celebration because we know how the story ends. We know that it does not end with death and despair, but with new life.

By welcoming new people into the church at the Easter Vigil, Catholics show them what it means to be a Christian. Being Christian means being a person of hope. Christians are not to let fear control them by running away from the liminal space or by trying to control it.

Jesus tells his followers time and again not to be afraid, but to hold on to faith. Christians must trust that when they feel lost or powerless, God is working behind the scenes and will show them when it is their time join in the work. Christians trust that God can and will bring about good from any situation. In short, Holy Saturday teaches new Christians one of the most important lessons we have: Easter will always come.

So, in just a few more days, we will wait together in the dark, just as the disciples waited together after Christ died and everything seemed like it was falling apart. We will light candles, burn incense and ring bells as we shout “Hallelujah” into the shadows.

We will baptize others in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We will renew our own baptismal vows and will share in the Eucharist together. We will teach our new sisters and brothers that living in hope, joy and love is not simply an option for how Christians can be in the world. It is our calling.