However, though the Church may say it is the same day, Father Time rolls right along bringing us one day after another. Thus, we end up with the rather odd occurrence of an Easter Friday. I say this is rather odd, because Friday is normally a time to meditate on the Crucifixion and Death of Christ, and Easter is normally a time to meditate on the Resurrection. Indeed, there is often a sentiment among Catholics to the effect of, "Well, we've just meditated for forty days about Jesus's death, now we need to think about His Resurrection."
We tend to separate in our minds the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, which is often very fitting and right to do. They did take place at two separate times, and indeed the scenes that we use to imagine these monumental events are rather different. For the Crucifixion we envision a bare hill with a dark sky, while the Resurrection rightfully brings to mind the sight of a garden and tomb. The physical and temporal distinctness of each event makes it natural to think of them apart from each other.
Meditating on them separately, too, can often bear great fruit in our relationship with Christ. By focusing on each event, we're able to discover more about them. By focusing only on the Crucifixion during Lent we're (hopefully) able to come to a more full understanding of Christ's sacrifice for us. We are plunged into the mystery of His suffering, of His humanity. We are called to wrestle with the fact that God would die for us. Likewise, in Easter, in meditating solely on the Resurrection, we're confronted with the power of Jesus over death. We learn that His death is not the end, and through His grace He leads into everlasting life.
However, while it is often beneficial to think of each mystery on its own, Easter Friday presents a whole new opportunity for us. On this day, the Resurrection is placed before our eyes by the Church, and the Crucifixion is placed before our eyes by Father Time. Because it is Friday we are confronted with His death, and at the same time because it is Easter we are confronted with His Resurrection. Today, then, marks the perfect opportunity to remind ourselves of the deep and intimate connection between the two. While historical and liturgical circumstances are often conducive to think of them separately, this day of the year is more conducive to thinking of them inextricably tied together.
And, indeed, one simply cannot be fully understood without the other. Good Friday, without Easter, becomes a simply tragic tale. Without His Resurrection, Christ's death on the Cross takes on the character of a true defeat. Yes, He died for us, but if He does not conquer death then it is death that conquers Him. He can still act as an expiation for our sins, offering Himself up to appease God's justice, but without the Resurrection He does not lead us into a new life.
Similarly, the Resurrection only makes sense in light of Christ's death on the Cross. First, and most plainly, Christ could not rise from the dead if He had not actually died. In order to overcome death, it was required that He actually grapple with it and confront it. He didn't wish to simply wave a magic wand to bring us to new life, He lead the way Himself. Furthermore, the Resurrection completes the sacrifice made on Good Friday. His sacrifice was not in vain, but was instead effective. He did not simply suffer, He conquered. He did both. And in so doing, He was able to both provide expiation, payment, for our sins and give us something that we had never had before. Like the Church says, "O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!" ~Easter Exsultet.
The Cross and the Resurrection, then, are both necessary. In our own lives we must make this reality of Christ present again, too. We must know that we cannot come to the Resurrection, the Glory of Christ, without first passing through the Cross. To be like Christ, we must suffer, we must become like Him in every way. If "it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal. 2:20) then we must become like the description of Christ in St. Paul's letter to the Philippians "Being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name." (Phl 2: 8-9). We must live both, we must live the Cross and in so doing we will also live the Resurrection.
Easter Friday, then, presents the perfect opportunity for meditation on this union of the suffering and glory of Christ. Interestingly, the Church does teach that "Easter" trumps "Friday" today. Unlike other Fridays during the year, we are not called to do penance today. Indeed, the Church actually allows the eating of meat on this Friday. These concessions of the Church teach a valuable lesson, then. Even though the Cross and Resurrection our intimately united, one is ordered to the other. One finds its fulfillment in the other. The Resurrection is Christ's greatest achievement, and it is the source of our joy. Though the two mysteries make up the one mystery of our salvation, it is the Resurrection that is the fulfillment. So, enjoy your Easter Friday today, and eat some meat!
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