This year Holy Week has a different feel to it. As we watched the news in recent days, we were told to prepare for one of the worst weeks we have ever experienced because of the stories and images that would come into our homes regarding the suffering of our fellow citizens due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a sobering thought and not what we are used to, especially as we prepare for the most important day of the year. These unforeseen turn of events have changed many things in our lives over the past month but they do not change Gods love for us or the great story that will unfold before our eyes in the days leading up to Easter Sunday.
Holy Week is one of the most sacred times of the liturgical year. It is a time to reflect on Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. It is a time of devotion to the Passion and the events of the Paschal Mystery. It is a time where we celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Our participation in the Easter Triduum, which is the heart of the Easter season, is especially important. The Holy Thursday liturgy is one of my favorites. During this Mass we reenact the Lord’s Last Supper, the priest washes the feet of parishioners just as Jesus did with his disciples and we celebrate the institution of the Mass and of the priesthood. On Good Friday, we follow along in Jesus’ footsteps while participating in the stations of the cross and we venerate the cross by kissing it, which brings us close to the crucifixion in a very substantial way. On Holy Saturday we celebrate Easter Vigil. We start with prayers outside at sunset, process in by candlelight and then listen to readings recounting Gods love for us and the history of salvation culminating in the story of Jesus’ resurrection. We also get to welcome our new Catholic brothers and sisters into our wonderful faith. It is a beautiful and uplifting night. One that I look forward to attending each year with my family. Participating in all aspects of the Triduum is a very powerful experience. This year, however, things will be different.
Unfortunately, most of us are under stay at home orders and are not be able to participate in the usual Holy Week schedule with our priests and parish family due to current efforts to social distance and limit crowd sizes to keep everyone safe. This, however, does not mean that we should distance ourselves from God or our Catholic faith. In fact it is the exact opposite. Now more than ever we need to turn to prayer, appreciate Gods presence in our lives, remember His message and live our lives in preparation for the gift of salvation that awaits us.
There are many things we can do at home to still participate. Many parishes offer online streaming Masses that we can watch as a family. While these celebrations may not contain all of the normal traditions such as the washing of the feet, these options are very important as they allow us to still be united in prayer with our priests and parish family. We can also recreate some of the usual traditions of the week at home. My family created our own stations of the cross and we hung them in a prominent place in our home. We plan to follow along with the readings of the stations together on Good Friday as we would have done at church. My children also made crosses to hang on our door and in different rooms in our house to serve as constant reminders of His ultimate sacrifice. As we watch Easter Vigil we will turn the lights off and light candles as we pray. We still plan to get dressed up on Easter Sunday to show respect and to signify the importance of the day. We still plan to make a brunch and gather around the table to celebrate family and the glory of Easter morning.
Holy Week is a time to let go of the stresses and trappings of daily life, to let go of worry and to renew our relationship with the Lord. It is a time to remember that Jesus is truly present in us and to realize what His sacrifice means for our lives, both in this world and in the kingdom of heaven. It is a time to look forward and to emerge from these forty days refreshed and excited for new beginnings. When we come out of these difficult times and are able to finally go out and reconnect with our friends and family, we will all have new beginnings waiting for us and our sacrifices during this time will have made us stronger in our faith.
As we experience this most unusual of Holy Weeks and prepare for the joy of the risen Lord we must not forget the true gifts of Easter – hope, joy, forgiveness and the promise of everlasting life. On this Easter in the year 2020, our churches may be empty but let us fill our hearts and minds with Gods love. Our churches may be quiet but let us fill our homes with music and prayer. Our world may seem like it has changed forever, but let us remember those most important days during Holy Week where the Son of God truly changed our world forever by transforming our destiny from lives of sin and death to that of eternal life. On Easter Sunday, let us bask in the joy of the day and gather in our homes to proclaim with our family both in person and in spirit – Jesus Christ Is Risen Today. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!