I love Holy Week. I really do. But man, is it busy. It’s more than just busy, though; it’s intense. The readings and prayers for the first few days of the week are poignant enough, but once Thursday morning rolls around, things get really serious. We start with the Chrism Mass at the cathedral, at which all of the priests of the Diocese will renew the promises they made at their ordination. The Bishop will also bless and consecrate all the holy oils to be used throughout the Diocese during that Mass, which always helps make concrete the reality that the Diocese isn’t a collection of churches but is, in fact, one Church. That night, we’ll celebrate as a parish family the institution of the Eucharist at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, and then we’ll have an opportunity to visit our Lord in the Eucharist at seven different churches as we remember the agony he endured in the garden.
The next day, we’ll once again recall His Passion and Death, and we’ll also have the opportunity to venerate the cross, on which hung the salvation of the world. On Saturday, the Church waits in silence near the tomb, but that night … that night everything changes. As the Church keeps her long vigil, light suddenly appears, eventually filling the church building and our hearts with new life and grace. Sunday morning, the Church rejoices at the empty tomb, knowing that death and sin no longer have power over us, but that Christ truly has risen from the dead.
Yeah, they make for some intense liturgies and good chances to pray. And, sure, they can even be a bit emotionally exhausting, but … think of how intense they must have been for Jesus. That whole week, as His disciples are getting excited about celebrating Passover, only He really knows what’s about to happen. Even Judas, with all his scheming, doesn’t realize how this story ends. As His own mother is left to stare at the cross and wonder why this is happening to her son, He understands not only why this is happening – but for who. And that “who” is us.
Intense, isn’t it? This Holy Week, as we contemplate what Our Lord did for us in those days, let us ask Him to remind us of our dignity; ask Him to remind you that you are worth the price He paid. And ask Him for the grace to live like it.