Lessons from Great and Holy Saturday Vespers and Liturgy of St. Basil

I've been bathed in Holy Scripture and the hymns of the Church for the last week (6 hours of services in the last two days alone). I've prostrated before the burial shroud and kissed the nail-scarred feet. How could I sing the following hymn and not be overcome with awe and thankfulness.

Let all mortal flesh keep silent
and in fear and trembling stand,
pondering nothing earthly-minded.
For the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
comes to be slain,
to give himself as food to the faithful.
Before him go the ranks of angels:
all the principalities and powers,
the many-eyed cherubim
and the six-winged seraphim, covering their faces,
singing the hymn: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

May I remember throughout the year the price that Love paid; that the Eucharist is more than bread and wine, but the bruised and broken body and the spilled blood of the King of Glory.

Lessons from Great and Holy Friday Vespers

We see a strange and fearful mystery accomplished today.
He whom none may touch is seized.
He who looses Adam from the curse is bound.
He who tries the hearts of men is unjustly brought to trial.
He who closed the abyss is shut in prison.
He before whom the hosts of heaven stand with trembling stands before Pilate.
The Creator is struck by the hand of His creature.
He who comes to judge the living and the dead is condemned to the cross.
The Conqueror of hell is enclosed in a tomb.
O Thou, who hast endured all these things in Thy tender love,
Thou hast saved all men from the curse,
O long-suffering Lord, glory to Thee!

Lessons from Matins of Great and Holy Friday

In the third Antiphon all six verses end with the line "but Judas the Transgressor was unwilling to understand." Not that he hadn't had things explained clearly enough. Not that he hadn't reasoned things out correctly. He was unwilling to understand. It seems that it might be a pretty good idea to pray for the purification of our desires.

What caused you to betray the Savior, O Judas?
Did He expel you from the ranks of the Apostles?
Did He take from you the gift of healing?
Did He send you from the table while taking supper with the others?
Did He wash their feet and pass you by?
How have you forgotten such good things?
...

He who clothes Himself with light as with a garment
Stood naked for trial.
He was struck on the cheek by hands that He himself had formed.
A people that transgressed the law.
Nailed the Lord of Glory to the cross.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two.
The sun was darkened,
Unable to bear the sight of God outraged,
Before Whom all things tremble.
Let us worship Him.

How can we fully appreciate Pascha without remembering Good Friday?

Lessons from Bridegroom Matins of Great and Holy Thursday

The Master shows the disciples an example of humility;
He who wraps the vault of heaven in clouds
girds Himself with a towel;
He who holds in His hands the breath of all that exists
kneels down to wash the feet of His servants.

He knows that this is His last supper before agony and death. Yet He is not irritable and withdrawn as I am over my small aches and pains. He humbles Himself by washing the feet of those who are about to run away from Him and deny Him and betray Him.

Lessons from Bridegroom Matins of Great and Holy Wednesday

Sessional Hymn Third Tone
The harlot approached thee, O Lover of mankind, pouring out on they feet costly perfume mixed with tears; and at thy command she was redeemed from the stench of her sins. But the ungrateful disciple, though he was touched by they grace, rejected it and defiled himself with mire, selling thee for love of money. O Christ, glory to thy tender mercy.

Tone Four
Deceitful Judas, in his love for money, contrived a deceptive plan to betray thee, O Lord, Treasury of life. Given to strong drink, he ran to the Jews and said to the transgressors of the law: What will you give me, if I betray him to you to be crucified?

The first two hymns contrast the actions of Mary Magdalene and Judas. What would be sung about me in my hymn? I have sold the Lord, made His sacrifice of no use in my life, and I have done so for much less than 30 pieces of silver, adulation of my wit, a place in front of some slow-poke during my commute, 30 extra seconds to think of me and my needs rather than the person I had just offended through thoughtlessness....

Tone Eight
O Merciful One, to thee the harlot cried out wailing; she wiped ardently thy pure feet with her hair, deeply sighing: O my God Cast me not from thee and despise me not, but receive me in repentance and save me, for thou alone art the lover of mankind.

The Kontakion
O Good One, I have acted lawlessly more than the harlot, yet never have I offered thee a flow of tears, but in silence I fall down before thee, kissing with longing thy pure feet, asking thee as a Master to grant me forgiveness of my sins, and I cry to thee, O Savior: deliver me from the mire of my deeds.

May the words of the Kontakion be my own.

Lessons From Bridegroom Matins of Great and Holy Tuesday

Since my work schedule prevents me from attending services for much of Holy Week, I decided to at least read through the services, pray the prayers and participate as much as possible in this way. When I read the following prayer, I felt a heavy weight pressing down on me.

Do Thou, who of Thine own good will was lifted up upon the Cross, O Christ our God, bestow Thy bounties upon the new Nation which is called by Thy Name; make glad in Thy might those who lawfully govern, that with them we may be led to victory over our adversaries, having in Thine aid a weapon of peace and a trophy invincible.

Submitting to Orthodox Tradition teaches us to pray in the way that we should. Without bitterness, judgment or lack of love. This particular prayer also taught me that I needed to go back and re-edit the post in which I first mentioned the scandal that continues to plague the OCA. I am ashamed that I let my anger and judgmentalism get the better of me. I am no less resolved to do what I can to help resolve this scandal. But now I am also resolved to do so with a spirit of love, with The Spirit of Love.