Holy Week

Holy Week is regarded as one of the holiest times in the liturgical calendar.  It is in Holy Week that we walk in time with Christ.  It begins on Palm Sunday.  As we recall Jesus walking into Jerusalem, being recognized as ‘King of the Jews’, the city laid palms at His feet .  What we also dismiss is that at the same time, at a different part of the city, the lambs were being brought into Jerusalem.  These lambs were to be monitored before the Passover. Lambs used for the Passover meal were to be without blemish.  This is symbolic as we see John the Baptist calling Jesus “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World (Jn 1:29)”.  Jesus was able to sacrifice himself to pay for our sins because Jesus did not ‘know “ sin (2 Cor 5:21).  Jesus was without the blemish of sin. 

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are the ‘quiet days of foreboding and betrayal’ (1P5, Kocik).  Then we enter into Holy Thursday, the first day of the Triduum, which begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.  It is at this time that Jesus instituted two significant Sacraments: The Sacrament of Holy Orders and The Sacrament of the Eucharist.  It is with great symbolism that 12 men’s feet are washed at the Holy Thursday services.  It commemorates that Jesus showed the 12 Apostles that they were to live a life of service to the Church.  The source and summit of that service was to provided Jesus as nourishment to the body of Christ, His Church, through the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  Jesus referred to this as the NEW COVENANT.  Only priests have the ability to share this Sacrament, to change bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.  This new covenant of God and His Church.

After this service, Jesus is removed from every main tabernacle in the world. It is on this night we stay awake, pray and watch.  Often the Knight’s of Columbus stand guard after this service until midnight.  It is commemorating that Jesus went with his disciples into the garden of Gethsemane.  He told them to stay awake and pray for the hour was coming. In the night, the soldiers came and arrested Jesus.  He was betrayed by a kiss from Judas.  The disciples fled and abandoned Jesus.  (The apostle John went to Jesus Mother, Mary.)

Good Friday we recall the passion and death of Jesus.  It is with heavy heart that we remember that it is our sins that caused the stripes of the scourging on Jesus back.  It is our selfish behaviors  and impure thoughts that crowned Jesus with thorns.  It is our wicked tongues that continue to yell out “Crucify Him!” and our lack of shame and dulled conscience's  that nailed Jesus to the cross.  Our sins are why we remember Good Friday.  Jesus took on our sins, so that we could be saved from eternal death and punishment to have the chance of eternal life and heaven.

At the Easter Vigil we celebrate that Jesus conquered death.  The most beautiful way I can explain this is through the actual prayer that we pray at the Vigil:
“O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen and life is freed, Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead: for Christ, being risen from the dead has become the Leader and Reviver of those who had fallen asleep.  To Him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen  (St. John Chrysostom).”

This is Holy Week.  This is our Faith with a great exclamation point.  If you are able to be part of the Holy Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday services), please do so.  They are beautiful liturgies, with an abundance of grace and a  remembrance of what it cost.   This is the marvelous mystery and the whole of our redemption!