The inauguration of Holy Week is again approaching. Once more, I am feeling so inadequate, unadjusted, and out of proportion to the thunderous immensity of these seven days. Full of meaning, of both mystery and madness, overflowing with waves of love and hatred, and here I am once more, with an overpowering sense that I am only grasping a few drops of divine truth into my personal cup.
My ignorance and self-centeredness limits my eyes of faith to see all of the steps that lead to the mystery of the cross and the power of the resurrection. Some traditions have ignored this entire week called “Holy” and have allowed only one Sunday to speak divine words to them. Other traditions see only rabbits, eggs, and meals to feed their impoverished souls. Fortunately, many other traditions, both ancient and apostolic, see that our destiny was being transformed over those 168 hours.
The Church fathers understood the value of taking this walk of faith, a journey so profound, that we would retell the story over and over again to remind us that our walk is not unlike our Savior’s. Only my death to self will allow me to make space for the redeemer of the world and take in fully all that I need to grasp as a lifelong learner of Jesus. Only my willingness to live for Jesus and others will allow me to make space for the sacred moments of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the Blessed Easter Sunday. Ever so briefly, allow me to share with you the precious need of your soul to experience Holy Week as millions of Christ followers have done for nearly two thousand years.
Palm Sunday – April 17th – 10 a.m. at Datron
With only a few days to go before the ultimate Passover, Jesus speaks to his followers about the coming culmination of time and history, a galactic collision of heaven and hell, all for the sake of earth and all who have ever dwelled on this planet. It is on this Sunday Jesus enters the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, proclaimed as King of kings by those who spread their garments and palm branches along His way. The earthly powers intuitively know there will be a collision of kingdoms and begin preparation to undo what God, before the foundations of the world, has willed.
Maundy Thursday – April 21th – 6:30 p.m. at Datron
Before Thursday, there was Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Within those three days, an unnamed woman anointed Jesus in the house of Simon, the leper at Bethany, drenching the Master with the overpowering scent of ointment that disturbed the moralistic and self-righteous nostrils of several, including Judas of Iscariot. What they saw was not what Jesus saw. For this scent was good news; it was an ointment prepared for his burial.
On Maundy Thursday, the night before Jesus suffered; He instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. On Maundy Thursday, the night before Jesus suffered, Jesus washed the feet of the Twelve. All claimed to be followers, all eventually turned their backs on him during the most precious hours surrounding his arrest and trial, and all but one was restored to service for the resurrected King. It is on this night that Jesus our Lord gives a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you. We too must wash one another’s feet. We can only do this by stripping ourselves of our false images of pride, prestige, position, and power.
Good Friday – April 22th – Noon, Stations of the Cross at Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside
From proclamation and palms only five days earlier to now shouts of “Crucify Him, Crucify Him,” Our Lord takes up His cross. A cross heavier than the weight of the redesigned tree alone, burdened by the sins of humanity made even heavier by my sins, our Savior carries to Calvary. It is God’s passion: a suffering servant sent into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. IT IS FINISHED!
“We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” (BCP, 281).
Holy Saturday – April 23th - Silence in the Church, no services
No words, no Eucharist, no preaching— it is a day of silence. The creed and the Scriptures only speak of our Savior descending into hell. There are no places where the love of God will not penetrate. We are silent because of grief and awe. So great a price and so great a love—for us, for me . . . yes, even for you.
Holy Easter Sunday – April 24st – 10 a.m. at Datron
The lilies are out, words are spoken, and joy is heard around the world. Our redeemer lives! His glorious resurrection delivers us from the power of the enemy. O Lord, grant us to die daily to self-destructive ways, that we may evermore live with Jesus in the joy of His resurrection.
Concluding Thoughts:
This is the most Holy of Weeks in the life of the Church. It is a week where we must take the Holy Week journey with Him! It is a time we say “no” to the busyness of life, and say “yes” to everything that is of God. This is a journey for community. I hope to see you there!
With love and peace!
Fr. Tony