HOLY WEEK

Rev. Mary McCue

Today is the first day of Holy Week, marking the coming end of Lent. In Lent,
we have the privilege of re-reading and re-living the events in Jesus’ life
that mark his end and his beginning.

The readings for this week are somber. They include intimations of betrayal by Judas Iscariot, Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and taking leave of them, the soldiers coming to arrest him, Pilates’ decision to allow him to be crucified, Peter’s denial of him and his burial.

Scripture reminds us of all of these events. So do our Holy Week liturgies.
While not as elaborate as they were in past years, and hopefully will be again
in coming years, they serve to help us re-live the story of Jesus.
Throughout Holy Week, the Gospel readings are from the Gospel of John.
These readings narrate parts of the story of Jesus. They also offer hope. In the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly refers to Himself as the light.

This Gospel includes more references to light – eleven – than in any other book in the New Testament, or in the Old Testament. We should pay close attention to those references; there is a message there for us. Despite the somber character of Holy Week, and its painful reminders of what was done to Jesus, he promises us Light – his light. He is the Light of the World.

Thanks be to God.