Jesus' Passion - Holy Week
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you (Psalm 118:26)."This week also known as Passion Week began yesterday as it recalls the journey Jesus took to Jerusalem. A most sacred time of year because it would seal the eternal promise God made to all who believe. It was a trip taken knowing that He would soon lay down His life for our sins. No grand entry; He came in riding on an unbroken colt with crowds waving palm branches welcoming the One who came in the name of the Lord. They shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David”! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”. It served as the preparation of one’s heart for the agony of Jesus’ passion and the joy of His resurrection.Much happened during this week’s journey and never once did Jesus turn or run away from His mission. On day two of His journey He noticed a fig tree that was fruitless. He cursed the tree and the next day it withered because it wasn’t producing what it had been created to produce. He also turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple because of their irreverence for the House of the Lord. Jesus’ journey in some ways reflects our own. We all have been created for a purpose and it’s up to each one of us to do or not to do.These past weeks have been trying yet we have people (essential workers) going about day after day carrying out their jobs putting their life and the lives of their loved ones at risk. It is a sacrifice albeit not the same as Jesus’ sacrifice but sacrifice nonetheless. There are also people from all over who have willingly volunteered to go on the front lines to help save the lives of others.It is my sincere prayer that this time in our lives will not long be forgotten. We need to remember the difficulties, the frustrations, the loss of freedom to go where we please when we please, the isolation, the loneliness, the pain, the daily challenges, the selfless workers who willingly stepped up to help those in need, those who lost their jobs, the inability to go to the house of worship, the necessity to develop other ways to connect to the outside world, the social distancing, the mask wearing, the inability to hug or touch, the closed schools, cancelled graduations and weddings, the people who lost their lives, to those who took their lives because of their inability to cope, the grieving families who weren’t able to be with their loved one’s when they took their last breath. These are challenges of biblical proportions and God knew we would need Jesus!As we celebrate this Holy Week (the Passion of Christ), remember we have a Savior who gave His life and is there to help us overcome everything we face. He gave willingly and selflessly. May we strive to be more like Him.