An Easter Reflection

For me, religion as a whole has revived over the past few years of my life, especially since I began school at The U. I don't know why; all I know is I'm really glad it happened. This Easter was definitely the one that sticks out in my life as being the one to remember, and it wasn't because my dad's roast beef was awesome. Nor was it because my uncle and his family came out and we had an absolute blast. It was because of the hour and a half I spent inside my church this morning.

I backtrack a few days. This year was the first time I decided to attend the celebrations on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. I also had the pleasure of attending these services with my friend and fellow jazz band trombonist. The celebrations were awesome and, what added to it even more was the fact that I assisted in each of them. For Holy Thursday, I presented the Holy Chrism to the congregation as Deacon John and Father Simon read scripture. For Good Friday, I carried the cross to the altar and stood there with 20 others holding it up for a good half hour while the entire congregation kissed it. Yes it was heavy, but so what. Then, today, to see the entire community come together and celebrate what some may consider to be the very reason why our religion exists was unbelievable. The extent to which the community prepared moved me. It also, of course, got me thinking about my eighth grade class.

Here we go again. In two weeks, another set of the confirmed will be sent out into the world as adults in the eyes of Christianity. Every year, all I hear is complaining because "none of the children really care and will not set foot back into the church unless they are forced to." But, I have good reason to think that will not happen with this year's class. Half of the confirmation class was present at either or both of the masses I attended during Holy Week. (I am sorry, I was out of town for the Vigil.) It was great to see and reassuring because I remember how I was at that age - you could not PAY me to attend any mass other than those I was forced to attend. Two weeks from Wednesday is the celebration and I have a feeling that I may have watery eyes again this year.