Holy Week

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday.

One of the few things I miss about no longer being a Catholic is the lack of palms on Palm Sunday. There is something about actually having a palm branch in your hand on Palm Sunday that makes a difference…especially for the children. And now that I think about it I also miss walking the Stations of the Cross…

Next week (starting today actually) is my favorite week of the entire year. I love this week.

Holy Week

Holy – consecrated, saintly, sacred, awe-inspiring.

Awe-inspiring

Don’t allow this special week (which culminates on Easter Sunday) to pass by without a glace or thought…

What can you do?

1. Lenten Lights: Eight Biblical Devotions to Prepare for Easter
2. Treasuring God in Our Traditions – Noel Piper
3. Through the Bible Through the Year – John Stott (specifically chapters 32-33)
3. Check out what is going on at your church or mine and attend.
4. Do you have really little ones? Veggie Tales Easter Carol, Children’s books/Bible stories about Easter, Nightly Bible readings using Lenten Lights or something simpler (your Bible or your child’s Bible) and/or candles.

Special Days: Palm Sunday (tomorrow), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Don’t let this week just pass by. Spend it in the Word –spend it riding a donkey with Jesus; hearing the rustle of palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna”; savor the Last Supper; share in the sorrow as friends desert, betray and deny; walk dusty streets bleeding and torn feeling the weight of the cross; imagine the pain (can we even?) of nails, and weight, and suffering; hear others beg to be remembered and hear soft words of forgiveness; taste the bitterness of vinegar, and the saltiness of sweat and blood; hear the words from the cross; shudder and weep at His death; feel the depth of loss; wait in the weight and despair of darkness and confusion and then, and then…walk to the tomb. Notice that the stone has been rolled away; that the burial clothes are empty; marvel; see the angel; listen in wonder and awe; be filled with JOY and run proclaiming…

He is not here; He is risen, just as He said (Matthew 28:6). !!!

He is risen. Place your hands in His wounds. Touch His hands and feet. Weep for joy. Rejoice!

Awe-inspiring? Uh-huh. Now you understand why.

Hallelujah!

Holy Week. I love it.

Remember and walk.