Bishop of Albany's Holy Week and Easter Letter

Received via email:

Holy Week and Easter, 2010


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As the world teeters from one crisis to the next, you and I as Christians can go forward facing the uncertainties and trials of life in confidence, a confidence not from human optimism, but from the salvation and victory won by Jesus Christ against all the forces of evil, hell and death itself.

With the coming of Holy Week, we have the great honor and privilege to join in celebrating the events of our redemption. We begin with Palm Sunday, whereupon we remember and celebrate how our Lord rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey (as had been prophesied about the coming of the Messiah) and how many greeted Him, singing, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” On Maundy Thursday, we come together to remember and celebrate the Last Supper Jesus and the Disciples were to have together before His arrest, at which time He instituted what we now know as Holy Communion or the Eucharist. In addition, it was then that the Lord stated, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Jesus would demonstrate the fullness of His love the next day on Good Friday, when He went to the cross, offering Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of all the world—dying in order that we might live. Three days later, on Easter Sunday, we join with all the Heavenly Hosts in singing “Alleluia. Christ is risen!” in celebration of our Lord’s glorious resurrection, wherein He conquered sin and death.

As we enter into Holy Week, we not only commemorate the historical markers of those eight days, but rather we are invited to enter in to a deeper relationship with the crucified and Risen Lord. Each of us brings to this Holy Week our own needs and problems and fears, indeed our own wounds. We can do this because we are confident that the Wounds of Jesus are the source of our forgiveness and healing. We especially bring to Christ what we can take to no one else, our sins. In exchange we receive new life and the promise of the resurrection we all hope for.

But beyond our personal needs and our family needs, the Lord calls us to help others in their own spiritual need. We are surrounded by folks who not only are in need of, but open to experiencing the transforming love of God. I encourage you to invite a friend, a neighbor or a co-worker to come with you this Holy Week. Reach out to someone you care about, and welcome that person to join you on Good Friday to hear the good news of the Savior’s love, and on Easter Day to hear the joyous praise that rings out the Resurrection victory.

As your bishop, I invite you to join the priests and deacons of the diocese at the Chrism Mass in any of three locations across the Diocese, as they renew their commitment to the Lord and to His ministry.*

May the Risen Lord who offered Himself for us upon the Cross fill you with a renewed faith. And may your family and loved ones be filled with the peace that surpasses all human understanding throughout Holy Week and the whole of the Easter Season.


In Christ our Risen Savior,

The Right Reverend William H. Love
Bishop of Albany


* Monday, 6pm the Cathedral; Tuesday 6pm St James, Oneonta; Wed, 12N, St Thomas Tupper Lake