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Holy Week
Next Sunday which bears the long title--Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion ushers in the holiest week in our Christian calendar—Holy Week. We begin the Sunday’s Eucharist with a remembrance and celebration of Jesus Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Luke tells us that the crowds spread their cloaks on the road to welcome Jesus and hail him as king! But before we leave Mass, we will witness Jesus’ betrayal and horrendous death on the cross—the fate of a criminal!
The readings for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week gradually set the stage for Jesus’ betrayal. In some areas of the world, Wednesday has been unofficially named “Spy Wednesday” because Judas is named as the betrayer in the day’s Gospel.
The Church gives us these days to allow us to be with Jesus in his last days before his death. If you have ever accompanied someone as they prepare to die, you know how special and precious the time together is. We have an advantage over these first disciples—we know the resurrection. They watched helplessly as the life of their leader/master and their dreams was cruelly crushed out.
Lent is almost over. No matter where we are in our Lenten practices, it is never too late to begin again! A suggestion for the remaining days—make time to slow down each day and pray with the Liturgy of the Church as a way of being with Jesus during his last days. St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits and the author of The Spiritual Exercises might suggest that we use the gift of our imagination to be more present to Jesus and the disciples as narrated in the text.
John’s Gospel is our guide as we witness the escalating tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. Towards the end of this week before the one we call “holy” the leaders of the people come to the ironic conclusion that it is better that one man die (Jesus) rather than the whole nation perish.
The next issue of the Liturgy Corner will reflect more deeply on the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil.
