I doubt that those first disciples would have used the word “holy” to describe the final week of Jesus’ earthly life. In seven brief days the disciples experienced triumph and betrayal, suffering and grief, the seeming finality of a sealed tomb, and the pervasive darkness of Saturday night. Welcome to Holy Week.
To designate something as holy means to set it apart from everything else, to deem it sacred or venerated. For people of faith “holy” designates those times and places where God’s work and presence is most clearly seen and experienced. In that respect Holy Week is the ultimate of “thin places” as the Celts called them; the place where the veil between us and God is very thin. This week, like no other, reveals the love of God for us on full display. No veil. Welcome to Holy Week.
It has been said that we need a holy time to teach us that all time is holy;
we need a holy place to teach us that all places are holy;
and we need a holy meal to teach us that all meals are holy.
And perhaps we need a Holy Week to teach us that all weeks are holy. This very week reveals to us the extravagant, eternal, unconditional love of God that is present in every week. Welcome to Holy Week.
-Pastor David