Faith and Mission
Holy Week
Holy Week is an extra special week in the Church’s year recalling significant and solemn events in the life of Jesus; his suffering and death. But the week is not only about memory or history; it is an invitation for us to shape the way we live our lives today and into the future influenced by the witness of Jesus.
The highpoint of Holy Week is Good Friday, a time to reflect on the Passion and Death of Jesus. It is a story that we are familiar with, we hear it each year, we reflect on it each time we go to Mass, we might even think of it each time we look at a Cross or crucifix. While it is important that we meditate upon the Passion and Death of Jesus we know that this story of suffering and sacrifice leads ultimately to a story of hope and optimism based on the Resurrection.
The suffering of Jesus reveals his humanity and speaks to each of us who have experienced personal suffering or loss. Drawing on his Jewish heritage, Jesus cried out from the cross the words of the psalmist:
(Psalm 22)
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.
I am scorned by others, and despised by the people.
All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads.
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
Do not be far away! O Lord, come quickly to my aid.
Take some time to read this excerpt of the Passion from the Gospel of Luke (23:44-49):
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.
When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
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Reflection:
It is hard to know exactly what those people thought when they looked upon the cross and saw the dead body of Jesus.
What we do know is that over the centuries, many have looked upon the Cross and have pondered what it meant for them.
When you look at the Cross, what do you think of?
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The Cross of Christ is the single most sacred symbol of the Christian faith.
For many of us it holds special personal significance. For all of us as members of a Catholic school community we recognise and honour what it represents.
In all churches on Good Friday, the Cross will be venerated by millions of people worldwide, in this way we connect to the one universal church.
When we venerate the cross we are doing two things:
- Firstly, we acknowledge the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of humanity through his passion and death; so we pay the highest honour possible.
- Secondly, we can take to the Cross our own sufferings, burdens and disappointments and place them before Jesus, just like those who have come before us.
Take some time now to read this message about the significance of the Cross from the teachings of St Paul: Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, did not cling to his equality with God But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names; so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11
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Ritual action
Next time you are in front of a cross, touch it lightly, bow before it, kiss it, or simply stand before it. Then pray ….
Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Ria Greene
Deputy Principal
Faith and Mission