8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ (Matthew 21:8-9)
Easter is the holiest time of the year. The Sunday, and the season, called Easter are a great celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. A time to let ourselves be overwhelmed and overjoyed by the vast love that God showed us on that first Easter Sunday. It is a time of celebration.
The week leading up to Easter is a little rough, though. It begins in the triumph of Palm Sunday, and ends in the glory of Easter. But sandwiched between these days is the darkest time in our faith. We spend a week with Jesus arrested, Jesus crucified, Jesus dead. We spend a week waiting for the story to be completed in the Easter miracle.
It’s our tendency to avoid such discomfort. To avoid the sense of incompleteness that can accompany Holy Week. And in doing so, I think we miss a great opportunity. Holy Week is a microcosm of our faith life. It begins with the triumphal entry of Christ into our life in our baptism. It will be completed at the Resurrection when we truly experience God’s glory. In between, though, we are left incomplete.
By embracing the tension and anticipation of Holy Week, we can gain a better insight into our own spiritual lives. And so, I would invite all of you to take part in the special services offered at this time, and in doing so grow closer to God.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:3)
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