Monday 30 March to Sunday 5 April - The Final Surrender
Holy week is the final week before Easter, where the Christian Church commemorates the final week of Jesus Christ’s life, including his entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, His crucifixion, and the Resurrection, serving as a time of deep reflection on His passion and sacrifice. It is held as the most sacred week in Christianity.
St Paul wrote to the Philippians:
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” - Philippians 2:8
As we reach this part of the Lent journey facing the foot of the Cross. We are reminded about a God who “emptied Himself“ for us. We call to mind one of the agricultural metaphors which Jesus used in his teachings from John 12:24-25:
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
George Herbert wrote the following poem entitled, “Love (III)”
Love bade me welcome. Yet my soul drew back Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning, If I lacked any thing. A guest, I answered, worthy to be here: Love said, You shall be he. I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear, I cannot look on thee. Love took my hand, and smiling did reply, Who made the eyes but I? Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame Go where it doth deserve. And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame? My dear, then I will serve. You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat: So I did sit and eat.
Through this reading we see the beautiful struggle of a soul trying to be “worthy,” but realise that we are the “guilty” guest. The key for us is to know that Love has already paid our debt, and that Love (Christ) insists on serving us.
Listen to "Lead Me to the Cross" by Hillsong United
As we listen to Lead Me to the Cross, we notice that taking up new habits was not about becoming “better people,” but about becoming more like the One who gave everything so we could have everything.
The challenge for Holy Week is to complete an Evening Examen. This is a nightly review of where you saw God (Consolation) and where you felt distant (Desolation). The aim is to help us see that the Cross is not just a historical event, but it is a daily reality. We can walk through our own “stations” of the day, with our own highs and lows, and see that Jesus was in both.
We end Lent not tired, but filled.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus, as we walk through this Holy Week, we are humbled by the Cross. Thank You for a love that was willing to suffer for our sake. As we look back on these past weeks, we see how You have been pruning our hearts to make room for New Life. Help us to stay at the foot of the Cross, knowing that the story does not end in the tomb, but in the glory of the Resurrection. Amen.
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