WHY HOLY WEEK? Day 1

I know that I have a lot to do this week as we journey through to Easter Sunday, but there’s so much that is really important about this week that I want to share what I can. Added to that, I am somewhat discouraged by the relative lack of interest in Lent and in worship in general shown by so many church members again this year, that even if I could put it all into sermons, chances are that the vast majority of “believers” would miss it completely anyway.

So I will write a few short posts and share them for those who are interested in “holy things” at least for my own sake, if not also for your sake.

At the center of Holy Week (actually the end of Holy Week) is the observance of the “Triduum,” aka the “three days” that precede the great Easter celebration: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. This is the heart of the Passion Story which we read in worship on Palm Sunday and also on Good Friday. Something important happened on those three days, and they shape our understanding of what it means to live as a follower of Jesus Christ. For us it begins on Maundy Thursday, (aka “Holy Thursday” to those who don’t want to get too deeply into the implications of the command of Jesus.)

I was intrigued, first of all, by a comment I read in the book, ”Feasting on the Word,” by Nora Gallagher. She said, “Holy Thursday is one of the biggest days of the Church year.”

I used to think that, but recently I wonder how many other normally faithful, practicing Christians believe that. Is Holy Thursday really “one of the biggest days of the Church year” for you? People used to think it was valuable to gather on Thursday night, the night in which Jesus was betrayed, to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion which he instituted on that night with his disciples. Of all the days in the year, this one day has a powerful connection to every Sunday worship service we attend. I couldn’t imagine what worship would be like had Jesus not had the Last Supper we read about in the Gospels. Holy Communion is not only what we do; it is what we are.  It is the day when we start our life together as the people of God, and it links us not only with all Christians who have ever followed in the way of the cross, it also links us with all the faithful Jewish believers who were liberated by God in the time of the Exodus. It is a really big night compared to every other night.

Yet so many seem to just let it slip by without any attempt to celebrate it.

Could it be that the practice of celebrating Holy Communion every Sunday has made this festival day just another day? Would we take it more seriously, for instance, if we decided to offer the sacrament only ONCE a year on this day (noon as well as night for those who can’t drive at night)? Imagine having just one day a year to receive the sign of God’s promise of the forgiveness of your sins and the hope of eternal life. Would you stay home and say, “I’ve had a busy day today, so I’m staying home”?

I know there are probably many genuine reasons that some Christians miss out on celebrating this day, so I’m thankful that we proclaim the forgiveness of sins every week rather than on a single Christian “Day of Atonement.” But let me just say that this day gives us a chance to stand up and receive once more the blessing God wants us to have. In some sense, it is the day that the Church was “born,” (or at least conceived). God invites us all once more to share in worship and fellowship with Him. It’s not the whole thing, but it is a great beginning.