Holy Week – A guide for personal reflection
Throughout its history, the church has used what’s called the liturgical calendar to mark certain events and seasons in the life of the church. More than just a list of holidays, the liturgical calendar marks entire seasons in which Christians are to place special emphasis on certain aspects of our life with Jesus. Now, you might be thinking “Why does the church calendar matter for me?”
That’s a great question! Whether you know it or not, we all organize our lives around calendars. Whether its the semesters in the school calendar or the quarterly segments of a fiscal year, we all live by important dates and seasons in the year. The church calendar is a way to orient our lives around the major movements of Jesus’ life in order to form us into more devoted followers of Jesus.
In the liturgical calendar, the week before Easter has historically been known as “Holy Week”. This time is an opportunity to reflect and meditate on the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
The following guide is meant to help you with personal reflection this week. We’re asking that everyone continue in the Year of the Bible plan that we’ve been in all year, but take some extra time this week to watch the video for the day and reflect using the provided questions and prayer.
HOLY WEEK 2022
Sunday
Palm Sunday marks the day that Jesus and his disciples finally enter the city of Jerusalem. The word “palm Sunday” comes from the way that Jesus was celebrated as he entered the city. In addition to the daily reading from our Year of the Bible Plan, watch the video and reflect using the Question and prayer below.
Primary Passage: Luke 19:28-44
Question: What was significant about Jesus’s entrance into Jerusalem? What did his symbolic actions lead people to expect?
Prayer: “Almighty and everlasting God, who, of your tender love towards mankind, hast sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
– Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, Prayer for Palm Sunday
HOLY WEEK 2022
Monday
Today we’re looking at Monday. On Monday of Holy week, we find Jesus making his way to the temple to teach. The temple was a BIG deal to the jewish people. It wasn’t just a place where they worshiped, but it represented the actual presence of God. Which is why when Jesus gets to the temple he is mortified to find that it has been turned into a market of sorts, with people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. In addition to the daily reading from our Year of the Bible Plan, watch the video and reflect using the Question and prayer below.
Primary Passage: Matthew 21:12-17
Question: Jesus’s ministry was normally focused on teaching and healing, but those things were not at the forefront of his mind on Monday. What “out of the ordinary” things did he do on Monday?
Prayer: Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
– Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, Prayer for Monday of Holy week
HOLY WEEK 2022
Tuesday
On Tuesday the religious leaders had a problem on their hands. Not only is this teacher threatening their influence over ther people, but now the civil unrest that he is causing is threatening their relationship with the Romans!
So the pharisees have decided to get rid of Jesus, but first they will have to turn the crowds against him, and on top of that they’ll need to find a reason to arrest him. In addition to the daily reading from our Year of the Bible Plan, watch the video and reflect using the Question and prayer below.
Primary Passage: Mark 11:27 – 12:41
Question: Mark 11:28 describes how the Jewish leaders tried to trap Jesus by his own words. How did Jesus turn the tables on them?
Prayer: O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
– Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, Prayer for Tuesday of Holy week
HOLY WEEK 2022
Wednesday
Wednesday is relatively uneventful compared to the other days of Holy Week. But one significant thing happens on this day: the plot to kill Jesus finally takes shape. In addition to the daily reading from our Year of the Bible Plan, watch the video and reflect using the Question and prayer below.
Primary Passage: Mark 14:1-2
Question: The response of the people to Jesus was positive. What group was not pleased with his teaching? Why?
Prayer: Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
– Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, Prayer for Wednesday of Holy week
HOLY WEEK 2022
Thursday
Historically, Thursday of Holy week has been known as Maundy Thursday. The word “maundy” comes from a latin word that means “command”. This refers to the instruction that Jesus gives during the passover meal with his disciples known as the Last supper. In addition to the daily reading from our Year of the Bible Plan, watch the video and reflect using the Question and prayer below.
Primary Passage: John 13
Question: What Old Testament event did the Passover celebrate (Exodus 12:7, 12–13, 22–28)? What was the significance of this for the timing of Jesus’s death?
Prayer: Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
– from the Book of Common Prayer, Prayer for Maundy Thursday
HOLY WEEK 2022
Friday
On friday, the religious leaders finally get what they want. They apprehend Jesus, and successfully turn him over to be crucified. The crowds who were laying down palm branches at Jesus’ feet just 4 days earlier are now screaming “crucify him” and demanding his execution.
Primary Passage: Matthew 27: 1-61
Question: Reflect on or discuss the significance of the following words or events:
• “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
• “It is finished.”
• The tearing of the curtain of the temple.
• The Roman centurion’s statement that Jesus was the Son of God.
Prayer: Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. – from the Book of Common Prayer, Prayer for Good Friday
HOLY WEEK 2022
Saturday
On saturday Jesus’ body laid in the tomb. He was dead. His followers were undoubetdly confused, scared, heartbroken, and probably dissapointed. Perhaps some of them were worried they too would meet the same fate soon. Was this it? Was this how it all ended? Wasnt Jesus supposed to save us? Wasnt he the messiah?
Primary Passage: Matthew 27: 62-66
Question: Mentally put yourself in the place of Jesus’s disciples on this Saturday and consider the wide range of emotions and thoughts they must have endured.
Prayer: O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
– from the Book of Common Prayer, Prayer for Saturday of Holy Week
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