Walk the Way of Love this Holy Week

By Rev. Heather J. Blais, Rector

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In today's gospel lesson, Jesus sends two of his disciples on an errand. He tells  them to go on ahead of them into the village. There they would find and untie an unridden colt. Should anyone push back, they were to say, “The Lord needs it.” 

When the owners asked what the disciples were up to, they seemed unphased. As if to say -  Oh, okay, well, if the Lord needs it, go right ahead.

By now, Jesus' disciples were used to following instructions that didn’t necessarily make sense. The text doesn’t tell us how they felt about it, what they were thinking, or if they were commiserating with one another about this slightly awkward task. The text’s silence on the matter, implies they were probably feeling comfortable and confident with their responsibility.
They must have been particularly grounded in prayer and faith that day

Those moments in our faith journey are comforting and easeful. We are invited to have faith and trust; and we do. These are waymarkers on our journey that we can look back on and remember what is possible when we trust in God. Then there are the other days where such faith and trust might be our most sincere desire, but something gets the better of us. Maybe it’s a lack of sleep, waiting on a diagnosis, or general overwhelm. 

What if the two disciples had been in such a head and heart space? They might have hesitated before heading out for the colt, instead double checking things with Jesus:  

• Are you sure? 
• Did you make a reservation? 
• Could there be more than one colt tied up in the village?
• What if this isn’t a good time for them to lend the colt?

We can yearn to follow Jesus on the Way of Love, and have every desire to do what God asks of us, even as we remain anxious, uncertain, and afraid. Or in other words, remain human beings.   

A wise parishioner recently reminded me how sometimes we are made uncomfortable by our own powerlessness. Combine this with the unknown and it can send many of us into a tailspin. We long for certainty and the false illusion of control. But those concepts are fog that the sun’s rays will transform into water vapor. 

Jesus knew about powerlessness. He came face to face with it, and accepted it. He saw the fear that drove those in power for what it was, and the resulting selfishness reflected in public policy and practice. He watched the few in power as they sought to hold down the many. A dynamic that will play out repeatedly during this and every holy week. 

Jesus saw the fear that can drive this world, for what it truly is. He held it next to the transcendent beauty of God’s dream for this world, and knew that faith would always overcome the fears of this world. Because Love shows us the Way when there is no way. 

Which is why Jesus rode that colt into Jerusalem. To herald a new kind of reign into being. One grounded in faith rather than fear, where all children are God’s children; and where there will always be room at God’s ever expanding table - no exceptions.  A reign where Love will always have the last word.  

As Jesus rode into the city, people spread their cloaks on the road. The disciples began to,  “...praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power they had seen…” They were making such a joyful noise, that a few religious leaders asked Jesus to order the disciples to stop. But he says, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out." He’s telling them, nothing can silence or stop the good news of  God’s love. 

Holy Week is a nonlinear time. When we enter into it, we somehow walk with Jesus and his disciples, as well as, every generation of the Church that has been and every generation that will be. We make this pilgrimage together. 

Our ancestors in faith have taught us this is a sacred time, and that the non-essential can be set down for this one week. While we might feel the pull to keep going, the invitation is to resist the false sense of urgency our society places on us. For one more week that layer of dust can stay on the bookcase, the errands may be postponed, and the endless list of projects or committee work can largely wait. For one more week, notifications can go on unchecked, emails unsent, and texts left unread. This is an in between time that urgently needs our attention. Because this sacred time is a key piece of our why as the Church.

Holy Week is when we collectively remember that the God of Love became incarnate, so we might understand the true power of Love. Jesus showed the world that even a vile instrument of death like the cross, can be reclaimed as a promise of new life, and the assurance that Love is stronger than death. By walking the Way of Love, Jesus models for us how the world can be transformed and turned right side up again when we see things through the lens of God’s love.* 

Life is full and complicated, and walking this week will look different for everyone in any given year. What matters is that we find some way to intentionally walk through this week, alongside every generation of the Church, to prepare ourselves for the cross, grave, and resurrection that is yet to come. If you are able, please consider joining us each evening for worship at 7pm. 

• We will have a contemplative worship in the Taize tradition on Holy Monday, including sung and chanted prayer, brief readings, and silence for meditation. 
• There is a healing service where we gather together to offer healing, hope, and thanksgiving on Holy Tuesday.
• There is a sung service of Compline featuring soothing prayers at the end of the day on Holy Wednesday.
• On Maundy Thursday, we will gather for the ceremony of the foot washing, anointing oil, a celebration of the institution of the Eucharist, and the stripping of the altar.   
• On Good Friday we will commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus, including a reading of the Passion gospel, music, and solemn prayers.
• On Saturday we will gather for the Easter Vigil. This is the primary celebration of Easter, and features the kindling of new fire, lighting the Paschal candle, the Exsultet, music, readings from the Hebrew Scriptures, the renewal of our baptismal vows, and the Eucharist.
• On Easter Sunday we have the option to go for an Easter sunrise hike and devotional, then come together for our Easter worship. 

This Holy Week, let us walk the Way of the Cross, which is truly the Way of Love. May we do so bearing witness to God’s Reign of Love that will continue to turn this world from the nightmare it is to so many, into the dream God created it to be.* Amen. 

Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Philippians 2:5-11
Psalm 31:9-16
Luke 19:28-40

*Regular references made by former Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and throughout the Episcopal Church.

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