Holy Week is a time of solemn remembrance. We remember the events which led up to the crucifixion of Jesus. Judas betrayed him. Peter denied him. The Council condemned him. Pilate and Herod allowed the conviction to stand. The crowd rejected him and cried, “Crucify him!” The soldiers made fun of him. As Jesus walked to the cross, his disciples abandoned him, leaving a handful of the women to stand vigil.

We want to say that we know better, that we would never be like those people, that we would never betray, deny, condemn, reject, abandon or crucify Jesus. We know about Easter.

But Holy Week is not a time for self-righteousness. It is a time for self-examination and scrutiny, for repentance and confession. It is a time to acknowledge that we do indeed fall short of God’s will for us. So come, let us approach the cross in humility, in the spirit of repentance and confession.

Remember also that, while we may need to pray apart from others, we never pray alone.

GATHERING PRAYER (from Celebrate God’s Presence)

Holy God, we gather in the shadows of Jesus’ suffering and death. We come with his friends, the men and women who have followed him in every place and generation, to live once again this story of service and betrayal, of weakness and courage. We come to witness your love in action. Be with us, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PREFACE TO THE SCRIPTURE READINGS

In the Revised Common Lectionary, this is Year A, so we focus primarily on the Gospel of Matthew. However, during Lent, passages from the Gospel of John are included.

Each of the four Gospels tells the Passion Story from a different perspective. We may be tempted to harmonise the accounts (as many of the Hollywood movies have done), and gloss over the differences. But I believe we need to approach our reading of the Passion Stories, and scripture as a whole, through the lens of our own experiences and perspectives, and with an appreciation for the perspectives of those who compiled, edited and redacted the stories of our faith.

For example, John’s Gospel doesn’t have the “Last Supper” as we re-enact it in our Communion services. In the first three Gospels, the Last Supper is on the first day of the Passover festival (Matthew 26:17; Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7). In John’s Gospel, the supper (which has none of the elements of our communion services) takes place on the evening before the festival starts (John 13:1). To us, this may seem trifling, but it makes an important theological statement for the first readers of John’s Gospel: Since Jesus is crucified on the first day of the festival, he is portrayed as the new Passover Lamb heralding God’s new act of deliverance.

You may have chosen one of the Paths I suggest in last week’s post. If so, great. But here are some further suggestions for reading and reflection during this Holy Week.

Blessings.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Readings for Maundy Thursday

Exodus 12:1-14 (Instructions for the Passover)

John 13:1-35 (In the Upper Room)

Readings for Good Friday

Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12 (God’s servant)

John 18:1 to 19:42 (Betrayal & Crucifixion)

Stations of the Cross

The Stations provide a meditative practice of walking, reading, and praying. These links offer the texts for each station (with some different options).

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/stations-of-the-cross/scriptural-stations-of-the-cross.cfm

http://www.provpresri.org/docs/GoodFri2013StationsCross%20(1).pdf

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/stations-of-cross-bible-verses-good-friday_n_1408397?ri18n=true

 

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