The Paschal Triduum

Last week, students in Miss Elsa’s class talked about the Last Supper. What did Jesus do at this particular moment in his life, just before he died and rose again? 
We learned that it was the Jewish feast of Passover.  Jesus wanted to celebrate that feast with those closest to him: his disciples, and so he chose a special place and sent two of his disciples there to get things ready for the Passover meal.

Students discussed how Jesus gave his whole self, his body, and blood for all people of all times.  The Eucharist we celebrate today is a memorial of Christ's death and resurrection. The class enjoyed a snack of unleavened bread and grape juice and then created palm paintings to take home. More about this lesson here.

The older students spent time discussing the most important three days in the Christian faith, the Triduum. We took a close look at a model of the City of Jerusalem which helped us understand the particular historical events of these last days of Jesus. We reviewed the significance of Holy Thursday, the day Jesus instituted the Eucharist and washed the apostles' feet, with the command, “Love one another as I have loved you.”(John 13:34).  Thinking about Good Friday and the brutality of the crucifixion is never easy. We focused on the joy and wonder of the empty tomb and Resurrection. Life is stronger than death and light overcomes darkness. We affirmed that indeed, the love evidenced in Christ’s passion and death is the love that brought about the resurrection—the love that continues to cover the whole world.

As a special treat, students baked delicious “Resurrection rolls” as a reminder of the empty tomb and the true joy of Easter. (click here for recipe).

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”-Matthew 28:5-6