A HOLY WEEK LIKE NO OTHER WE HAVE EVER KNOWN

The Gospel reading for Sunday, March 29 was the familiar story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. The Gospel read for Saturday, April 4 follows up that story with the growing concern of the religious leaders that Jesus was becoming too popular and saying and doing things that did not go over well with the Roman occupiers of Israel. As a result, the high priest Caiaphas plants a seed suggesting “it is better that one man should die for the people.”

Palm Sunday is often referred to as the “triumphal” entry into Jerusalem, but only Jesus and a few of his more astute disciples and followers knew how things would end later in the week.

Given our current situation, Holy Week has become much more real for me this year.  Fear and confusion are prevalent, heightened by our coming face to face with the unknown in a way we have never experienced before. Perhaps this is a possible entry point for our experience of Holy Week this year... Will the current reality facing our nation free us to trust this Jesus who, we believe, died for us?

The answer to that question depends on who we are and where we are with God.  There’s no quick, easy fix here, just a willingness to trust in Jesus who tells us over and over in Scripture that He loves us and that He will not abandon us. Yes, this is easier said than done, but my willingness to work on this will be much more fruitful than giving in to despair and anxiety.

May our unanticipated and uncomfortable current perspective grace us with the opportunity to experience Holy Week and Easter in a new, life-giving way.

This Monday Minute is from Brother Hank Hammer

Brother Hank is listening to “Sometimes He Comes in the Clouds” by Steven Curtis Chapman (click here)