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Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the final Sunday of the Lenten season and the beginning of Holy Week, which leads us into Easter. During Holy Week we observe:
Palm Sunday – Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem as leader of a joyful rag-tag march that parodies and subverts the pomp, circumstance, solemnity and intimidation of the Roman Empire’s oppressive military processionals.
Holy Monday – Jesus’ cleansing of the temple and critique of how religious practice is co-opted by those seeking to consolidate wealth and power.
Maundy Thursday – Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, his example-setting and instruction to love, serve, share food and build grassroots community.
Good Friday – Jesus’ arrest and execution by the state and religious establishment for being an outspoken political and religious activist.
Easter Sunday – Jesus’ triumph over evil, death and forces of violence, oppression and domination.
The events of Holy Week invite us to experience the clash between God’s way (the way of fullness of life, freedom, healing, hope, peace, and love) and the Worldly Powers’ way (the way of control, order, domination, subjugation, and violence).
In 2025, the way of the Worldly Powers seems to be in full swing. Tensions between nations are being instigated and stoked. Wars are waging. In America, power is being consolidated. Funding is being pulled from efforts that seek to uplift communities. Money is pouring upwards (not trickling down). Basic necessities are becoming less and less affordable. People are being thrown in detention centers and deported to prisons. Courts are being circumvented. (Not that America or the world were free of any of these injustices before 2025 – recently, the same Powers that have always ruled are simply more flagrantly baring their teeth).
However…
...the Good News of Easter is that Hope prevails. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not extinguish the light. God’s way shines through:
Remembering Palm Sunday, we can march and rally, parody and subvert the empire’s efforts to intimidate and control us. Together, we can block traffic, boycott, strike, divest, or engage in any of the other 198 nonviolent ways to resist.
Remembering Holy Monday, we can commit ourselves to faith practice
lived in pursuit of liberation for oppressed peoples. We can strive to be a congregation that refuses to be bought or co-opted by capitalism, consumerism, patriarchy, and power; that refuses to conform to the ways of the world, or be complacent and complicit in people’s suffering.
Remembering Maundy Thursday, we can focus locally, redoubling our efforts to know, love, feed, clothe, care for, and share life with our diverse neighbors. We can foster community and create affirming local cultures that reject efforts to impose on us a new divisive, harmful national culture. We can take care of each other in grassroots ways that do not rely on government institutions or funding.
Remembering Good Friday, we can bear witness to violence committed by the state against vulnerable people. We can see Christ in every victim today. We can do our best not to betray or deny them, but to live and act from a place of solidarity.
And remembering Easter Sunday, we can hope in the power of Resurrection to triumph. We can live our lives with faith that death and domination cannot ever completely stifle love and liberation.
I invite you to observe Holy Week (and beyond) with us at Asbury First. Visit asburyfirst.org/holy-week for a complete listing of Holy Week offerings.
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