What is Holy Week for Christians?

This week is an important week in the Christian Liturgical Calendar. During this week we commemorate our Lords last days on earth and most importantly, His glorious resurrection. It is a week given by the Church for us to meditate on our lives as the followers of Christ.

Why do Christians make a big show of the events in the life of Jesus in the Holy Week? Let me take you briefly to the events in the life of Jesus and its significance to us.

The Holy Week begins

The first Holy Week, by the plan of God, was the most important week in the life of Jesus Christ. This Holy week, likewise, should be the most important week in the entire year for each one of us.

A brief background to the event that happened in the life of Jesus;

The entire passion took place in Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, and its environs. Political situation was that the Jewish nation was subject to Rome. Roman governor was Pontius Pitate. Their high priest Caiaphas and the council of 70 elders ruled the Jews. Herod was the King of Palestine.

Jesus of Nazareth who for three years has been preaching the kingdom of God, working miracles and finally claiming to be the Messiah, was so growing in popularity that the High priests and the Jewish authorities saw in Him a serious threat to their authority over the people. Authorities wanted to kill Jesus but they had not authority to kill anyone only the governor of Rome had that authority. Now Passover week, with the great influx of pilgrims to Jerusalem, was a hand. Under such circumstances Holy Week began.

Palm Sunday

First day of the Holy Week is Palm Sunday. On Sunday morning of Passover Week, when pilgrims were traveling to Jerusalem, Our Lord went openly from Bethany to Jerusalem, by the most direct road. He even sent His disciples in for a donkey, thus encouraging a celebration. The enthusiastic followers made a triumphal procession, and in triumph Our Lord entered the Holy City. Jesus enters Jerusalem like a king but not like Herod or a worldly king but humble servant king riding on a humble donkey.

Next Three Days

Now for the Next three days, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we are given time to meditate on some of the key movements of Jesus and their repercussions felt by the authorities. Thus, this meditation will help us to enter into Holy Triduum. Three days Gospels from our daily liturgy propose Jesus’ actions as intense as possible, which will cause disputations among the authorities, and than High priests are worried about the authority of Jesus. Hence they plot to eliminate Jesus.  Holy Triduum begins on Holy Thursday and end on the Easter night and then we have Easter Season.

Holy Thursday

First day of the Triduum is Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday. Before Jesus was to be handed over to the authorities he desired to celebrate the Passover meal with his disciples. He, as the teacher and master of the disciples did an extraordinary act of humility by washing the feet of the disciples. Now this is really an act leaving one’s position to care for the people who are lower to them. We the Catholics witness this act of humility as a symbolic gesture in our parishes when our priest or leaders of the church wash the feet of others.

The Institution of the Eucharist: It is the day Christ instituted the Eucharist, the Mass. Our Eucharist has its origin in Christ Himself. And whenever we celebrate Eucharist we do that in Christ’s memory.

Good Friday

It was past midnight when our lord again wakened the three Apostles, Judas and the soldiers approached Our Lord to capture. Then he was taken to the house of Annas for a preliminary investigation. Next he was taken across the courtyard to Caiaphas the High priest for interrogations in preparation for the full religious trial. Pontius Pilate the governor of Rome was the next in line to pass judgment on him but seeing no guilt Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, the King of Galilee, who sent him back in a robe of mockery. Then Pilate forced to release Barabbas and hand our Lord to scourged and sentenced to death of the Cross. This way Jesus is crucified between two brigands. Jesus dies on that cross, a painful death by forgiving his executioners and the brigand. Helpless mother Mary stands at the foot of the Cross.

Our parishes remember this event by meditating the painful journey of Christ through the Stations of the Cross. It is the day to spend time with the Lord who died for our sins. We also have veneration of the Cross in the afternoon in our parishes.

Easter Vigil

Resurrection of the Lord is celebrated in the Easter Vigil. This is an important event that happened in the history of humanity. Jesus rose from the dead. He spoke about his own resurrection throughout His time on earth, that he would rise again in glory to judge the living and the dead. It is a most beautiful moment for us Christians. We have waited for this moment during our season of Lent by sacrifice and prayer. We are happy that our Lord has risen from the dead. He has risen to die no more. What a wonderful day for us, the resurrection of the Lord. We have an uplifting liturgy on the Easter Vigil. It is the unique solemnity in the Church and an important liturgy. We have new light being blessed proclaiming Christ is the light of the nations; we sing exultet in which we proclaim the greatness of our God. We have 5 to 7 scripture readings in which we recall how God created the universe and how he saved us. We also renew our baptismal commitment and renew our faith in God. It is day to celebrate our Lord’s resurrection. As we say, we are resurrection Christians.

Easter and Kites

In Guyana, we also follow the Easter tradition of flying kites. This is a beautiful tradition we do after spending time in prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We come together as brothers and sisters to celebrate together. Some of the parishes will bless your kites on Sunday or Monday. We are united as the people of resurrected God just like the kites of different color and size. Let us take this opportunity as we celebrate the Easter to unite as the children of one God.

It is a great time to be in the Church, to pray and celebrate. Nothing like being in the Church during this Holy Week, so join us in our celebrations. You are most welcome to join any of the nearest parishes to find out the time of these festivities. God bless.