Making Holy Week Holy

Holy: separate, consecrated, set apart

God has called us to “be holy as I am holy.”  So what makes this week more holy than others?  Should we really set this week apart as special and unique? If so, how?

I come from a church background with little to no liturgy or ritual.  I didn’t ever “give anything up” for Lent and I certainly never experienced the whole “ash on the forehead” thing.  As a zealous evangelical college student, I rejected anything that I viewed as a “tradition of men” or that I judged as being done out of compulsion, legalism, or guilt.  But now, as I’ve grown significantly older and slightly wiser, I’ve come to appreciate the Lenten season, especially this “Holy Week.”  Taking the time to reflect on Christ’s suffering and his sacrificial death makes me appreciate and love my Savior all the more.

Here are a few things I’m doing this week (some individually and some with my family) in order to make Holy Week, well, holy.

1.   Experiential Learning .

a.   Resurrection Eggs.  Cheesy? Yes.  Effective? Absolutely.  By providing a visual reminder of the significant objects and events from Jesus’ last few hours on earth, anticipation for Easter Sunday builds.  My kids actually look forward to reading passages of scripture that correspond to each egg. And, I’ll admit, it’s pretty experiential to pop open a plastic egg and find a vinegar-soaked sponge inside (see John 19:28-29).

b.   Bible Reading Plan . Mark’s gospel walks us through the last week of Jesus’ life, day by day.

Sunday: “When they were approaching Jerusalem” (11:1)
Monday: “On the following day” (11:12)
Tuesday: “In the morning” (11:20)
Wednesday: “It was two days before the Passover” (14:1)
Thursday: “On the first day of Unleavened Bread” (14:12)
Friday: “As soon as it was morning” (15:1)
Saturday: “the Sabbath” (15:42 & 16:1))
Sunday: “Very early on the first day of the week” (16:2)

By reading these passages, while viewing a map of Jerusalem, I can more easily picture where these events and conversations happened. (It helps to have visited Israel recently.  Make sure you put that in your schedule soon.)

2.   Limiting Distractions .  My usual routine involves me constantly replying to email, checking headlines, listening to Sports Radio or Pandora, and keeping up with the latest happenings on social media.  But this week, I’m making an effort to minimize the noise and spend some extra time with God.  Reflecting on the scriptures, listening to what he wants me to hear, and renewing my spirit.

3.  Making the Most of Opportunities .  Yes, I know I’m supposed to be alert and open to how God will use me in people’s lives 24/7/365.  But what I’m talking about here is taking advantage of the Easter Season to engage with people about spiritual things.  This time of year, folks are willing to talk about Easter traditions, which can lead to significant spiritual conversations.  I’m praying that the Lord will orchestrate several of these timely encounters with people who are open to discussing the Gospel: who Jesus is, what he did, and why it’s important.

What about you? What makes Holy Week holy for you?