Go to Dark Gethsemane

The Triduum, the three days of Jesus passion, are not "celebrated" by all churches. The Reformers threw some stuff out. The Resurrection Cross, without the crucified Christ is common in non-liturgical Christendom. I grew up with the dark cloaking of Lent. I remember vividly the nuns covering all the statuary in our parish with black. At All Saints, we started every school day in church. During Lenten preparations, second graders prepared for their first confession, practicing with a nun the words, "Bless me Father, for I have sinned." The sinfulness of man was on display in that we were educated to assume deep sorrow during Lent for the fact that our sins were responsible for Jesus' crucifixion and death. The dark draping included the altar, the nuns covered all stained glass windows, the music was somber, the tone was death. We attended Lenten prayers at the foot of the cloaked cross. We suffered with Him, we asked Him for forgiveness.

I attend a United Methodist church now. There are no statues to drape, no Christ on the cross, but there is a somber Maundy Thursday service bridge us from the Palm Sunday leccionary readings to Easter, giving a taste of the Passion along the way. When Mel Gibson's movie came out, we all saw it, Protestant and Catholic, Orthodox and Atheist. I know of no one who has seen it twice. It hurts us to feel responsible for His death; we look away. But the "sorrowful mysteries" include Dark Gethsemane. We must look.

But, the magical contrast between dark Gethsemane and Easter morning is not as deep. Let's remember to mourn our loss before we celebrate our salvation.