Sue’s Monday Morning Meditation
Holy Week
03/25/2024
Scripture:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 9 (ESV)
Comments:
Last week, we experienced the vernal or spring Equinox, a time when planet Earth reached the point in its orbit when its axis was at a right angle from the sun.
This week, we enter what is known in the Christian Church as Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday, March 24th and culminating Sunday, March 31st when we will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.
During Holy Week, the story of Easter unfolds. Beginning Palm Sunday, we see Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem where he was hailed as a king. Then, he was maligned, betrayed, arrested, tried unfairly, sentenced to death, and crucified. Jesus never wavered in his faithfulness to the mission and modeled only sacrificial love and forgiveness throughout Holy Week.
The joyous part of this story is Easter Sunday when Jesus rose from the grave. The resurrection is foundational to Christian beliefs, bringing the assurance of God’s love and forgiveness, as well as victory over death because of the promise of eternal life. Easter creates perfect spiritual alignment.
Sometimes I’ve wondered why the events of Holy Week had to happen. Truly, I don’t know. The insight of King Solomon who wrote Ecclesiastes assures us everything that happens during our lifetime has not only a season but also a purpose. Even events such as Jesus’ betrayal; agonizing prayer of relinquishment in the Garden of Gethsemane; untrue accusations and unjust trial; brutal beating; and shameful death on a Roman cross. All were in God’s season and for a much higher purpose than I could ever imagine.
Today, as I welcome the lovely new life which Spring brings, I also reflect upon all the events of Holy Week and welcome the promise of hope and new life resurrection brings.
Prayer:
Jesus,
It sounds so trite, feels so inadequate, but
Thank you for enduring all you endured during Holy Week!
Help me to never forget.
Expand my ability to absorb and appreciate the price you paid
So that I can enjoy the soul-freedom for which you died.
I love you, my Lord and Savior,
Amen
Reflection Question(s):
What season does it feel like your soul is in right now? How can the promise of Springtime, the sobriety of Holy Week, and the insights of Solomon in Ecclesiastes encourage and enable you to journey through this season with hope?
Sue Reeve
Note: All photos in today’s post were taken by my husband Ron a couple years ago when we visited the tulip festival in the Washington Skagit Valley.