holy week

by Guest Blogger MHI Patron & Rev. Dianne Cardin (retired)

Holy Week is a roller coaster of emotions. It begins with Palm Sunday as parishioners celebrate the arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem with the waving of Palm branches and shouting “Hosanna”, Save us!  Jesus was understood to save by bringing peace through equity, justice and love. This was in comparison to the Roman soldiers who also entered Jerusalem that day imposing peace through oppression, violence and fear.   

During the week, Jesus received expensive nard from a woman as a loving anointing.  Jesus said her blessing would always be remembered. He gave many teachings before he gathered in the Upper Room for the Last Supper with his disciples.  This is now honoured as Maundy Thursday.  As Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, he demonstrated that to lead is to be a servant to those who are served. To remind us to be servant leaders some churches include foot washing rituals in their Maundy Thursday service. It was at the Last Supper as Jesus shared bread and wine that he gave new meaning to these elements. The breaking of bread and pouring wine represented Jesus’s willingness to give his life for God and for the strengthening of his followers. This meal is now called The Lord’s Supper, Communion or the Eucharist. As the meal concluded, Judas left and betrayed Jesus, leading to his arrest. This sombre remembrance is followed by Jesus going to the Mount of Olives to pray. It is a painful, prayerful time.  

Good Friday is the day of Jesus’s crucifixion. Following a mock trial, flogging, and denial by Peter, Jesus is forced to carry his own cross until Simon of Cyrene assists him. Jesus is nailed to the cross between two criminals, one who scoffs at him and one who recognizes him as a man of God. After Jesus’s death, Joseph of Arimathea, took Jesus’s body wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid it in an unused tomb. The women who loved Jesus came and bathed his body in spices and ointments. This is a dark, sombre day as parishioners remember Jesus and his death in a Good Friday service.   

Easter Sunday, also called Resurrection Sunday begins in gloom as the women go to the tomb only to find Jesus’s body is not there. Panic sets in. Several of the women run to tell the disciples. Mary Magdalene, now known as the disciple to the disciples, remains at the tomb and has an encounter with the risen Christ. As the disciples and others come to the realization that Jesus is with them in Spirit or in Body their song becomes a joy filled “Hallelujah”, Praise God. Easter is the most important celebration for Christians. 

Holy Week begins with hopeful pleading and ends with exuberant praising God.  If that is all that Holy Week is, a deep meaning is missed in the Hallelujahs. In between these two Sundays, a life is sacrificed for the love of God. From what is to all appearance an end, God breathes new life. Questions are posed about a spiritual or a bodily resurrection. Whichever perspective you take, God gives life and is with us in our joys and in our sorrows. Let our Hallelujahs be robust and heartfelt. Let flowers grace our sanctuaries, with the fragrance of new life. Let our praise reflect that with God all things are possible even if we do not recognize that God is doing a new thing.