“Whoever saves one life, saves the entire world.”
Oskar Schindler
There were no palms branches being waved in my living room Sunday morning as our new norm of gathering in front of the 50” television to stream my church service took place. There was little pomp and circumstance at all. Yet, Sunday ushered in the beginning of the Church calls “Holy Week”.
This is the week marked by the biblical event leading to Easter. Each of the gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John give us glimpses into the occurrences of the first Easter week. Jesus celebrated with palm branches and shouts of Hosanna as he rides in a donkey. Jesus confronts the religious and calls them robbers as he clears the temple. Jesus curses a fig tree. Jesus’ feet are bathed with expensive perfume by Mary.
Jesus celebrates the Passover one final time. A spotless lamb is sacrificed for God’s spotless son. Bread is broken like his body would be. Wine is sipped as foreshadowing of his blood. He takes the lowly position of a servant with a towel and basin.
From table turning to the tables being turned. Judas, one of his those closest to him sells him out. The angst of the garden draws blood from the brow. Peter, one of his best friends, wields a sword to defend him. Minutes later, he denies him.
Jesus is tried. Jesus is convicted. Jesus is beaten. Jesus is mocked. The noonday sun gives way to the darkness. The earth literally shakes. Jesus takes one last breath. Hell week…Holy week.
In the same moment as Hell was seemingly winning is one single event that changes history. As the earth quaked, all of Hell celebrated, Jesus slumped over in death, the barrier between God and man was broken like his body. In the temple, the curtain between the Holy of Holies and man was ripped in two. The place man had been restricted from reaching, God’s Holy presence, was opened in the death of Jesus.
It was Jesus facing all of Hell making a way for us to be Holy.
I am fatigued of the posts and narrative of Easter being cancelled because we will not gather. Easter cannot be cancelled for one simple reason: history cannot be changed. Jesus died on Friday, his body was resurrected on Sunday.
Sure all the world is facing a level of Hell. A virus has taken us captive and imprisoned us in our homes. Sure what has been our routine of dressing in pastels, passing out chocolates, and impersonating bunnies will be put on hold. But maybe that is the point. Maybe what we need is honest reflection on the hell week of Jesus so that we can honor this week as Holy. Maybe in place of absolute broken desperation we can reconcile and recognize the Hell he paid in order to bring us to a place where we can be Saints and be called Holy.
