Holy Week – the last week of Lent – has come and gone. For Christians, the purpose of Holy Week is to relive and participate in the Passion of Jesus (the theological term used for the events and physical, spiritual, and mental suffering of Jesus in the hours before and during his trial and execution). As we look back at the entire week, we might want to do more than remember Jesus’ last days. We may understand that life is not just about newness and joy, but also about the darkness of betrayal, denial, fear, and despair. Reliving Holy Week gives us a chance to examine our own faith journey.

Palm Sunday: Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph with crowds waving palm branches and shouting their affirmations that he was the messiah. But only a few days later, the crowds cried out for his execution. We might ask ourselves if we too are easily swayed by the psychology of crowds. Do we want God only on our terms?

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: Although we are not clear about all of Jesus’ activities during this period, we know that it was an intense time. It is believed that Jesus chased the money-changers out of the Temple and preached and taught in Jerusalem. As we think on those three days, perhaps we can focus on the impact of his work on our own lives and on the world.

Maundy Thursday: Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, shared the last meal with them, gave them a new commandment to love others as he loved them, felt the sorrow of Judas’ betrayal, prayed in agony in Gethsemane while his disciples slept, and was arrested. Perhaps we can remember our own denials and betrayals of God, of others, of ourselves. We can also ponder what it means to “wash each others’ feet” and to love as Jesus loved. Would we stay awake and pray with Jesus or would we too fall asleep?

Good Friday: Jesus was arrested, put on trial, crucified, died, and was buried. On this day, Jesus said from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” What about us? Can we ask for forgiveness and for help in being more forgiving?

Holy Saturday: Jesus rested in the tomb. As we consider this day, it may be a good time for us to slow down, to wait and reflect, to be quiet, and to ponder the darkness of the world without God in it.

Easter Sunday: This was the day when Mary Magdalene met the risen Christ in the garden and thought he was the gardener, the day the angel told the women at the tomb that Jesus was risen from the dead, that he was and is alive. Do we recognize Jesus walking amongst us? Or do we think he is the gardener or the bum on the street corner? Perhaps we can pray with gratitude for the love of this risen Christ.

Beloved Christ, we have just gone through this holiest of weeks. Help us now to ponder the meaning of each day of your last week and of the impact of them on our own personal lives. Help us to learn from these days of pain and joy and to start our lives anew with the risen Christ. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com