Holy Week

Holy Week is a very important part of the Christian year, even more important many would say than Christmas, Its significance to the Early Church is clear from the proportion of the Gospels that is given over to the events of the last week of Jesus's life – between a third and a half. Many Christians however do not seem to set aside time for meditation and worship during Holy Week, such a crucial period in the life of the church.

There is quite a lot of talk these days about 'spirituality', what it means and whether it is possible to be spiritual without being a Christian, or even a member of one of the other major faiths. For me, the days leading up to Good Friday are the most spiritual period of the year, the one time when we should really try to make some space to worship, pray and reflect, around the events of the first Holy Week.

There is in fact more opportunity to do this in Holy Week, as there is less of the hype that happens around Christmas. Even so, many more people seem to manage to attend 'Carols by Candlelight' than even a Good Friday service.

It feels to me very difficult to rejoice fully on Easter Sunday if we have not taken time or trouble to meditate on the events of Holy Week, and to worship at least once, either on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. One of the greatest theological challenges to any faith has always been the suffering in the world. There is no easy answer to this, but there is a way of being to which the key I believe is the events of Holy Week. I hope and pray all Christians will make a mental (and spiritual) note to give time to personal spiritual development in Holy Week 2007, so we can genuinely rejoice on Easter Day. In the meantime, let us celebrate the Easter season, and demonstrate the reality of the new life of resurrection, both in our church's life and our own.

David Haslam
April 2006

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