Looking Ahead to Holy Week

Shall we start with Thursday...

We will read a segment from Matthew's account of Jesus' last days: Matthew 26:17-30, 36-46

The Reflection will be Stay Awake

Early Thoughts: They have gathered for a meal. Jesus has given them the structure for what will eventually be formalized into the Christian Eucharist/Communion celebration. Since the triumphant entry into the city just a few days ago Jesus has been confronting the authorities in the Temple and has spent time talking about preparing for the end. Surely the stress level amongst the disciples must have been a little high.

Then in the garden Jesus asks them to sit in the dark and stay awake. They fail. Repeatedly.

What if they had stayed awake? What if they had overheard Jesus anguished prayer? How might that have changed them?

Sleep is, of course, a necessity for our health. Sleep keeps us renewed. Sometimes sleep can be a way to escape as well. Sometimes in stress sleep is one of those ways we can shut off the outside world, even if just for a little while.

When should we be more intentional about staying awake? 

In the last number of years some commentators have tried to make being 'woke' (even if the term is never really well-defined) as a bad thing. Interestingly others tell people to "Wake UP!!!!". As we contemplate following the path of Jesus, The Way of Jesus I think we have to be awake. I think we have to resist the temptations to allow ourselves to be numbed to reality, or to let ourselves be lulled into falling asleep. HOw might our world change if more of us stayed awake?

At the same time I know some of us are exhausted and a nap sounds really good...

Now shall we look at Friday?

This year we will hear a portion of the Passion story as told by John: John 19:1-30

That will be followed by a reflection So Many Crosses

Early Thoughts: The Passion story is a story of a sham trial, a foregone conclusion and a torturous execution. Good thing those don't happen anymore right?

OR do they?

AS we look at the world are there people who are summarily condemned? Maybe not by the state but certainly by the society around them. There are people who are cast away. There are people who are scapegoated, who are used as convenient sacrifices to keep the world acting "as normal". There are people who are told that to be their full selves makes them eligible for being cast out, makes them worth less than others.

What are the crosses we see in the world today? WHen we see them how do we react?

Later that night we will hear the end of the Good Friday story, the burial of Jesus: John 19:38-42

That marks our transition into the great time of vigil and waiting. So we will be invited to reflect with We Are Waiting.

Early Thoughts: What is is like to wait? How do we sit vigil? What are we waiting for?

In his Song "Hidden Hallelujah" Christopher Grundy reminds us of some of the people who are left out, some of the crosses in our world. He also reminds us that we are all waiting for a hidden hallelujah, waiting to hear the bells of justice, waiting for God's grace, for God's kin-dom. One of our Easter hymns (Joy Comes With the Dawn) tells us that weeping may come in the night  but then joy comes in the morning light.

AS we leave the Good Friday service night has fallen. But we await a new dawn, a new hope, life will yet win.  As Grundy sings, "it ain't over til the angels sing".
--Gord