Holy Week Summary
Monday
The entry into Jerusalem is one of joyful hope and Jesus’ preparations reinforce this. He enters from Bethphage and Bethany to the Mount of Olives, the place from which the Messiah was expected to enter. He requisitions transport as the right of kings. Yet he chooses a donkey to fulfill Zechariah 9:9 ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey…’
Tuesday
St Mark’s Gospel juxtapositions the support of unknown persons and the betrayal of those close to Jesus. This all points to a profound lesson in life. So often we do not know who supports and who betrays - who stays the course and who deserts. When we embark on an enterprise, don’t be too hasty to exclude and don’t be too anxious to trust. Matthew 7: 15 ‘By their fuits you will know them’.
Wednesday
I believe Mary’s two acts of reverence are symbols of sacrificial love and profound devotion. The intimate and personal nature of Mary’s encounters with Jesus, emphasizes the importance of cultivating a deep and loving relationship with Christ through acts of devotion. To be a follower of Christ transcends mere adherence to practices and dogma; it is fundamentally about cultivating an intimate, personal relationship with Him.
Thursday
One of the poignant incidents in St Mark’s Gospel narrative of Jesus’ passion is despite Jesus telling his inner circle of Peter, James and John ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death’ and goes off to pray, he comes back and finds them asleep. Karl Barth, one of the most important theologians of the 20th century, viewed the disciples’ sleep as representative of humanity’s inability to fully grasp the significance of Jesus’ suffering, as the depths of God’s love and salvation.
Friday
As Jesus hangs on the cross, enduring unimaginable suffering and agony, he utters these powerful words: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ These words encapsulate the very essence of Jesus' mission on Earth – forgiveness, mercy, and love. Despite being unjustly condemned, mocked, and crucified, Jesus does not respond with anger or bitterness. Instead, he offers a prayer of forgiveness for those who have inflicted such cruelty upon him.