16th April 2025

Here we are, half way through Holy Week. We have celebrated Jesus’ spectacular arrival in Jerusalem, and tomorrow we will think of the Last Supper. The tragedy of Good Friday will soon be followed by the glorious miracle of the Resurrection on Easter Day.

But what about the days in between? What about Monday, Tuesday and today? For many of us this is a week of holiday, especially for school children and their teachers. We can relax as we await the forthcoming special days; already we can prepare to celebrate Easter, having marked Good Friday safe in the knowledge of the Resurrection which is to come (have you bought your Easter eggs yet?!).

But that’s not what it was like in Jerusalem then. The disciples did not know what was going to happen and when the crucifixion took place they didn’t know what would happen two days later. During those days between the entry into Jerusalem and the Last Supper Jesus was very busy and he must have kept the disciples busy too – so much so that while he was praying they went to sleep – exhausted with the busy schedule perhaps.

So maybe it’s rather inappropriate that Holy Week is a holiday period for many of us, when we can relax and look forward to Easter. Jesus certainly didn’t relax during those days – he knew what fate awaited him, even if he didn’t know exactly how it would happen, so he was anxious to do as much as he could while he was able to. So perhaps we should remember that the work of witnessing for Christ doesn’t stop between the special commemorations. There is still work to do!

David T Roberts