Holy Means “Set Apart”
~ Today, Palm Sunday, is the beginning of Holy Week. For many of us it is busy and full; people trying to squeeze things in before Easter or the extra days off of work and school. For some of us it is busy and full because our work environments barely notice something is different this week, and we’re expected both to carry on as usual while simultaneously withdrawing and entering more deeply into prayer and solidarity with Jesus during these sacred days. Both are challenging, but when done with care, there is is no wrong way to celebrate Holy Week.
More than anything, I want to encourage you to take time today to make intentions about how you will set this week apart for yourself and others in your home. While you carry on with your Lenten sacrifices, how else will you mark this week as different and “set apart”?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Place your palm branches from today in a prominent place in your home. Make it a center of prayer for this week.
- On Good Friday, we will hear the Solemn Intercessions of the Church – a set of ten prayers that are unique to that service. Write one of those intentions in your calendar for each day of this week and offer up your day to that prayer.
- Re-read the story of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt – the holy day Jesus had traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate at the time of His death. Ask God to open your heart to this story in a new way.
- Teach little ones about all of the events of Holy Week. There are many, and they get confused! Remind them of the symbols of our faith that we will see and celebrate this week. (one of our favorite ways to re-tell this story are what we call the “Hey-o! Jesus” videos.” Seriously – just google it. You’ll definitely find them).
- Visit a new church or sacred space this week. Maybe one close to your work, to make it easy! Let God speak to you in that new space.
- And of course, attend the Triduum services this week! Though it feels like a lot of “church,” what we enter into on Thursday night is actually one liturgy that does not close until the end of the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening. The services have so many unique rituals and prayers that we don’t get to experience any other time of the year!
On Holy Thursday, Jesus asked his disciples to stay and pray with him for a while in the Garden of Gethsemane. How will you use this week to accompany Christ through this most important time?
Throughout the year, we present an article in the bulletin each week on a variety of topics, written by a member of our Parish staff or ministries on a rotating basis.