Holy Week

A Journey Through Holy Week: Honoring the Passion of Christ

As the season of Lent reaches its climactic end, the Church enters Holy Week, a period dedicated to the solemn commemoration of the Passion of Jesus Christ. This week, the final stretch before the joyous celebration of Easter Sunday, encompasses a powerful blend of emotions, rituals, and teachings, helping us to deeply reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, marking Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As recounted in the Gospels, Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, greeted by crowds waving palm branches and heralding him as the Messiah. Churches often distribute palm crosses on this day, a tangible reminder of Jesus’ arrival and a stark symbol of the fate that awaited him.

The narrative of Holy Week then takes us to Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday. This day commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus shared his final meal with his disciples. During this meal, He instituted the Eucharist and demonstrated an act of humble service, washing the feet of his disciples. 'Maundy' is derived from the Latin word 'mandatum,' meaning 'commandment,' in reference to the new commandment of love Jesus shared on this day.

The following day, Good Friday, is one of the most solemn days of the Christian calendar. It honors the Crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. Churches often hold special services which may include the reading of the Passion narrative, the veneration of the cross, and a period of silent reflection on the profound sacrifice made by Jesus.

After Good Friday comes Holy Saturday, a day of waiting and anticipation for the Resurrection. This is the final day of the Triduum, the three-day period beginning with the evening of Maundy Thursday and ending with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday.

Prior to the liturgical reforms in 1969, Holy Week formed the second part of a two-week-long period known as Passiontide. However, in the current liturgical calendar, the term Passiontide has become synonymous with Holy Week, emphasizing the intense focus on the Passion of Christ during these days.

Holy Week invites us into a profound journey, retracing the steps of Jesus during the final days before His Resurrection. It is a week of prayer, reflection, and reverence, urging us to meditate on the depth of Christ's love and the immense sacrifice He made for humanity. As we transition from the solemnity of Holy Week to the joy of Easter, we are reminded of the transformative power of God's love, encapsulated in the journey from death to new life.

Saddleback Easter Service 2021

"An Easter Experience Resonating with Love and Fearlessness: Tuning into Saddleback Church’s Online Service 2021"

In the time-honored tradition of Easter, a day that embodies the transformative power of God's love and resurrection, my dear companion Karen and I were fortunate to engage in a virtual communion with the community of Saddleback Church in 2021. This live online service unfolded as a profoundly uplifting and spiritually enriching journey, connecting us with the essence of Easter in a profound way. We were privileged to partake in Pastor Rick Warren's sermon, a deeply stirring narrative that underscored the might of God's love in overcoming fear. This remains, to this day, one of the most poignant interpretations of this theme we've encountered.

Pastor Rick delved into the labyrinth of 'fear' during his sermon, analyzing its multifaceted persona as it manifests in forms such as anxiety and anger. With a compelling insight, he highlighted the recurring phrase "Do not be afraid", which echoes throughout the Bible 365 times - an apt metaphor reminding us of God's unceasing call for courage for each day of the year. This recurring affirmation emphasizes God's perpetual love, a love so vast and unwavering that it has the power to quell any form of fear we may harbor within us.

The sermon unfurled in the form of five salient points, each reflecting upon a different facet of our relationship with God, as follows:

1. We can trust in the truthfulness of Jesus' words. (Romans 1:4, NLT)

2. We comprehend that death is not the end, but a transition. (Hebrews 2:14-15, 2 Cor 4:14-16, NCV/NLT)

3. We are forever cocooned in the warmth of God's extraordinary love. (Romans 5:8, Eph 3:18-19, LB)

4. We affirm that God has a beneficial and loving plan for each of us. (Romans 8:28, NIV; 1 Peter 1:3-4, MES)

5. We rest in the faith that God will attend to our needs, in abundance and with compassion. (Eph 1:19-20, NLT; Hebrews 4:16, NJB/NLT; Matthew 6:25-34, NLT)

The crux of Pastor Rick's message was embodied in Romans 8:15 (MES/NLT), a profound verse that states, "This resurrection life you receive from God’s Spirit is not a fearful life. You’re no longer a slave of fear anymore. Instead, God’s Spirit makes you His child and you now relate to God as your loving Father!"

Borrowing from the eloquent prose of a beloved song, Pastor Rick instilled in us the empowering mantra: "I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a Child of God."

This brief retelling, despite its earnestness, can hardly encapsulate the depth and resonance of Pastor Rick's sermon. I strongly encourage everyone to visit Saddleback Church's website to personally partake in the Live Services, and to witness for themselves the profound wisdom and spiritual enlightenment offered there. The accompanying musical performances, let me assure you, are nothing short of a heavenly symphony, adding to the divine aura of the service.

Robert Barnett, April 5, 2021

Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office

"The Liturgy of the Hours: An Ancient Ritual Bridging Divinity and Daily Life"

Embodied in the sacred rhythms of the Catholic Church, the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office, stands as a testament to the power of consistent, intentional prayer. This official set of prayers, designed to mark the canonical hours of the day, reflects a time-honored tradition that permeates the daily lives of clergy, religious orders, and laypeople alike.

Primarily consisting of psalms, supplemented with hymns and readings, the Liturgy of the Hours provides a spiritual cadence that harmonizes human existence with divine temporality. This ritual, in tandem with the Mass, shapes the official public prayer life of the Church, infusing the daily rhythm of life with an undercurrent of divine reverence and contemplation.

Upon receiving ordination in the Holy Orders, clergy members are bound by a canonical obligation to incorporate the daily recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours into their lives. Priests, under canon law, are required to immerse themselves in the entire Liturgy of the Hours each day, while deacons integrate the morning and evening hours into their daily devotions. This liturgy is not confined to clergy, but forms an integral part of Christian monasticism, serving as a foundation for prayer within these devout communities.

The implementation of this sacred practice varies among religious communities, with the nuances tailored to align with their specific rules and constitutions. In a move to foster deeper spirituality among laypeople, the Second Vatican Council urged the Christian laity to adopt the practice. As a result, a growing number of laypeople have begun to integrate portions of the Liturgy of the Hours into their spiritual routines, extending its reach beyond the cloistered walls of monastic life.

Tracing its origins back to the nascent stages of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours, along with the Eucharist, has formed an integral part of the Catholic Church's public worship. It is a shared practice that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, uniting Christians across Eastern and Western traditions. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Anglican churches each celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours, albeit under different names, highlighting the universal resonance of this practice.

Within Roman Catholicism, the Liturgy of the Hours finds its home in the Roman Breviary. In the Greek tradition, the corresponding services are compiled within the Ὡρολόγιον (Horologion), or the Book of Hours. For the Anglican community, the Liturgy of the Hours is encapsulated within the Book of Daily Prayer of Common Worship and the Book of Common Prayer. Regardless of the specific denomination or the title under which it's celebrated, the Liturgy of the Hours stands as a testament to the Church's commitment to infuse the daily rhythm of life with profound spiritual observance.