April 1, 2007

    For Christians, Holy Week is the high point of the liturgical year.  Beginning with Palm Sunday and proceeding through the week with Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, Christians have the opportunity to reflect on the events that have left a definitive mark on their spiritual life.  This is a good time for us to stop our busyness and to take the time to enter into the Passion of Jesus.

    We begin with Palm Sunday.  For most people, Palm Sunday is seen as a time of celebration.  Jesus enters the holy city of Jerusalem in preparation for the annual Passover.  He
has been on the wanted list for some time so he is taking a chance of being arrested upon arrival.  The people see him and are excited.  They welcome him with Palm branches, a symbol of honor given to kings.  They wave their branches and lay them at his feet.  They cry, Hosanna to the Son of David, meaning he is of royal lineage. However, we know that only five days later they will be calling out even more loudly for his crucifixion.  Why did they change their minds so quickly? Perhaps the thought that we want to reflect upon this week is: Do we also want God only on our terms?  Does taking him on his terms seem too difficult or inconvenient? 

    After spending a few days in the city, Jesus has his last meal with his disciples.  There are many things that happen during this meal.  We are all familiar with these events but we often forget their meaning for our lives.  Had there not been a last supper there would be no Eucharist.   Too often we focus on the betrayal by Judas and we forget that Jesus gave us the sacrament that would feed us forever.  This is also the sacrament that enables us to have Jesus present with us for all time.  This is a great gift.   Do we appreciate this gift or do we take it for granted?  How many of us take the time to attend the Holy Thursday Eucharist - the liturgy that helps us to remember and to relive Jesus’ last meal?  How many of us are very much like the apostles, i.e., followers of Jesus who don’t seem to understand what is really going on?

    The Apostles continue to slip from here on end.  They begin by being taken aback at Jesus’ words during the meal, then they are dumbfounded by his washing of their feet.  Peter misses this point completely.  Then, they proceed to follow Jesus to the Garden of Olives only to fall asleep, a time when he would have needed their support the most.  Once the crowds show up and take Jesus in to be tried, the apostles run away.  They sneak around from a distance and then disappear completely, locking themselves up in a room until Easter Sunday.  Only a few woman and one young man stay to the end

    Who do we most resemble?  Peter? The other apostles?  Judas?  The few women?  Or worse yet, are we even in the picture at all?  Do we run away from God because we are afraid that being follower of Jesus will be too difficult?  Will it make us unpopular?  Will we be asked questions that we are not willing to answer out loud?  Does following Jesus take up too much of our valuable time? 

    Where do we stand this week?  Take a few moments each day and answer these questions from the core of your being? 
                                Lorette P. Nault