Holy Week

Monday, April 6, 2009

Dear Fellow Travelers,
According to the Christian calendar, this is Holy Week, the week that marks the most significant events in all of history. If we could, somehow, rewind the "film" and relive this week, as eyewitnesses to the actual events, I think our concept of "holy" would change; in fact, I know it would. If Jesus wept over Jerusalem (and He did!), as He rode into that Holy City on the back of a borrowed donkey colt, some 2000 years ago, what is His response today, as He observes the church's attempt to "holy-ize" this incredible week?
Folks, we cannot make the profane holy, regardless of how we dress it up, and profane is just what the shenanigans we call Easter really are. In fact, the more we try to dress up the events of this incredible week, the more profane they become, and the more Jesus weeps. It really is true: we will do anything to diminish the offensiveness of the gospel--hide it in colored eggs, paint over it with pastel colors, dress it up with new dresses, suits, and hats, disguise it as an Easter Bunny, even present it masqueraded in musical productions.
Oh, I almost forgot: if we do not promote all of these shenanigans, then we won't reach the masses for Easter Sunday, Sunday School attendance will be less than last year, the church down the street will have the largest crowd, and above all else, the church coffers won't be filled. Sadly, no one will have anything about which to brag, and that would would be terrible!
Maybe we really do need to spend more time around the events of His last supper, His changing the shadow of Passover, into the substance of Holy Communion, and His washing the disciple's feet. Maybe we do need to spend more time trying to enter into the gut-wrenching experience of Jesus' pointing out that Judas would betray Him and his running out into the night to take his own life. Maybe we need to visit the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane (the place of crushing!), just to be reminded of what that "crushing" involved. Maybe we need to feel the sting of the whip and the crown of thorns, just to be reminded that Someone took our place. Maybe we need to be reminded that holy ain't about shenanigans; it is about a Man called Jesus--the Holy One of God!
Maybe we need to be reminded that we are holy, not because of our shenanigans, but because He made it through this terrible week, as victor! The King of Kings and Lord of Lords really is alive, and He does NOT need the help of any of our shenanigans!

Run to Jesus, as He is enough, and then some!