The mystery of the Holy Week begins with the joy of Jesus coming to Jerusalem riding on a donkey on Palm Sunday. This becomes easy for us to follow Jesus as we throw our cloaks and Palm branches at his feet singing “Hosanna”. But it is much harder to follow him to the garden of Gethsemane where he was afraid, then to the court under Pontius Pilate, and to the cross of Calvery on Good Friday.
On Palm Sunday, the sun is shining and everything makes sense as we parade all around singing “Hosanna to the King of Kings”. Our King has arrived triumphant to save us and becomes the ruler on earth forever; and that is our blessed hope.
But on Good Friday, the sun refused to shine. Suddenly, life is no longer the same. Our King whom we thought had come to save us is dying a gruesome death by crucifixion. Only four of his followers remained with him by the cross. Out of twelve Apostles, only John was courageous to stand watching Jesus as he suffered and died on the cross. All the others ran away, including Peter, who had earlier confessed that he was the Messiah, only to deny him three times when confronted with grief.
Holy Week reminds us that our faith is not meant to be passive, but to be rooted in love because of God’s love for us all. Our faith is active because “Love” is an action; crucifixion did not just happen to Jesus – it was a willingness and intentional act of perfect love for God and for humanity.
True faith requires us to love God not only on Palm Sunday when the sun is shining, but also on Good Friday when the sun is blotted out of our lives.
Happy Easter everyone!!
Reverend Sydwell Isaac
Your Vicar