Holy week certainly involves a wide range of emotions.
We begin with Palm Sunday and Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem surrounded by the crowds celebrating and shouting Hosanna with hope and expectation. Maundy Thursday brings a quiet, intimate and powerful evening where Jesus gathers the disciples over a meal. He uses bread and wine to invite his followers into a transformation, redemption and community. Jesus washes their feet, calling them and us to humble service of one another. Then, as he prays in the garden, Jesus is betrayed and arrested. Friday unfolds in unexpectedly terrible ways. Trials, mocking, flogging, and then a torturous and humiliating death on the cross. Undergirding it all, is the knowledge that on Easter, Jesus rises from the dead.
The roller coaster that is Holy Week is extremely powerful, but really, it is not unique. Every week of our lives we encounter at least some of these emotions. We walk through the joys and challenges of life on earth. As we, our families, and our communities face defeats and successes, celebrations and sorrows, we rest in the knowledge of God’s abiding love and presence surrounding us. The victory of the resurrection gives us hope and courage to move forward despite the struggles. The God who brings new life where we can only see death is with us no matter what we must face in Holy Week and every week.
May your Holy Week be filled with wonder and hope. May you experience the care and love of God in the challenges and joys of life on earth this week and every week.
Peace,
This was previously posted in 2016. I’m sharing it again because it seems to speak to our present moment this Holy Week 2020 as well. ara