April 13, 2025: Waxing and Waning
Waxing and waning
As a reminder, the reason the dates for Easter and Holy Week change every year is because they depend on the moon. Whenever the first full moon of spring appears, we place Holy Week around it. That’s because on Holy Thursday, we connect the Last Supper of Jesus to the annual tradition of remembering the Passover Meal. This commemorates the Israelites leaving Egypt—which happened on the first full moon of spring. Got it? So there will always be a full moon during Holy Week.
Now, with the moon—when it’s not full or completely absent (which is called the new moon)—it’s either waxing or waning. I can never remember which is which. [I hold up a visual of the full moon changing shape by partially covering it.] But I learned that waxing means the moon is getting fuller (like applying wax onto something, like your car), and waning means the moon is getting smaller (like the phrase “my patience is waning”).
Stay with that concept of the moon getting fuller or smaller for a moment—it fits perfectly with the second reading today, where Paul quotes a popular hymn of his time about Jesus. It’s when Jesus empties himself [show moon getting smaller]—taking on human form, humbling himself, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane for God to take this “whole thing away”—and gives up his life on the cross.
And this isn’t just Jesus’ story; there’s more to it. Each of us has also faced times when it feels like our world is falling apart, when life seems to be diminishing [show moon getting smaller], descending into the depths of sadness. How often have you prayed that same prayer of Jesus? “God, just make this stop. Make this all go away.”
But your darkest moments are actually holy and full of God. They are not a sign that God is absent. Often, it’s in those very dark times that we finally let go of control and allow ourselves to be converted, transformed. It’s then that we recognize the truth: for light to appear, it’s not because of anything we do. It’s not your talent, your ability to bounce back, your wit, charm, or good looks. It’s God—the source of light and hope. When Jesus was at his lowest that he was exalted by God and grew in majesty [show moon getting fuller].
So Holy Week is not just Jesus’ story—it’s our story. Your story. I invite you to come back and attend all the liturgies we’re offering.
- On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the Last Supper and how God wants to feed us and send us out to care for others, not just ourselves.
- On Good Friday, the noon service is a time to venerate the cross and reflect on what needs to die in us. That night, we offer a completely different service called Tenebrae, where we focus on the darkness that surrounded Jesus—and surrounds us, too.
- On Holy Saturday, we hear the story of God’s love throughout history and celebrate with those becoming Catholic—with a big reception afterward!
- On Easter Sunday, we celebrate new life and hope—plus an Easter Egg hunt after the Masses.
We can never fully know the heart of God, but we can imitate Jesus, who let go of his worry and fear and put his trust in God. This is your story. Come and discover how God wants to work in your life.
