The mysteries we celebrate in the Triduum from Holy Thursday evening till Easter Sunday are not separate from one another.   The Eucharist, the Passion and Death of Jesus, his Resurrection are joined together.  We”re meant to consider them together,  They are the Paschal Mystery. 

We cannot consider, for example,  the Eucharist only as a sacrament in which we adore Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He gives himself to us in this sacrament as a Servant, whose blood is poured out for us. He is the Lamb of God who gives us life for the journey God calls us to make.

Like his people in Egypt, we are to stand ready for the passage we are to make. He will be our food. He will wash our feet to make them clean and strong for the way, He is our Bread, our Manna. Our Companion on the journey.

The Passion of Christ is not only a dramatic story of the sufferings Jesus Christ endured on Good Friday. We see in his sufferings the love that conquers suffering and death. St. John’s gospel, read on Good Friday, reveals glory in him whom they pierced. He brings life to us and our world. 

We cannot celebrate Jesus Christ risen from the dead without seeing the wounds in his hands and his side.   His victory over death was not without cost.  To rise with him we must die with him. “Lord, by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.” 

The Easter Triduum celebrates consecutively three mysteries of Jesus Christ that belong together. They are the most important mysteries of our faith. 

Alleluia!