Dear friends in Christ, this week marks the largest and most important feast in Christianity: Easter is simply the remembrance that Jesus died and rose again.  But it is not simply anything! It is the week in which remember humanity’s sin at crucifying an innocent, holy man.  And it is the week in which we remember that God acted to make sure that was not the end of the good news.  
              I invite you to walk with us this week on Maundy Thursday, retelling Jesus’ finally night among his disciples; his lesson on love in action by washing their feet.  At St. Michael’s, we will be washing each others’ hands with sanitizer this year, a pointed symbol of humility and love in caring for each other during this pandemic.  That night, the chapel will be open and the virtual prayer vigil will be live-streaming where we can “keep awake” with Christ through the final night of this earthly ministry.  
              On Good Friday, we will hear of his crucifixion- the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for us.  How every evil power and corrupt system did its best to stop him, but failed.  We will venerate the cross, an instrument of cruel death turned into a symbol of love and self-sacrifice.  
              Then, on Saturday evening at the Great Easter Vigil, we will celebrate the empty tomb and Jesus’ resurrection in the first Eucharist of Easter! The tomb could not hold him.  Evil fell short when compared to God’s love and forgiveness.  We will tell the story of salvation again, beginning with the great fire and concluding with the fire that is in our hearts as followers of Jesus.  
              Easter Sunday we will gather together and tell the story one more time, of how God’s love was not and can never be defeated.  And with God, there is always something more even when to us it seems like we are entombed.  
              Blessings to you this week, and I look forward to walking this spiritual path with you once more, either in person or virtually.  

Jesse+