Pastor Ken Ponders Holy Week 2011
Why do we still observe Lent and Holy Week? Are we wasting our time? Americans’ work schedules leave precious little time and energy for such antiquated religious practices as Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Can’t we just skip over to celebrate Easter, making ourselves sick on high cholesterol breakfasts and chocolate while wearing clothes only for that day?
Why not forget that Christians are called to special times of disciplined study and acts of obedience in service, sacrifice and extra times of prayer? Isn’t meditating on repenting of our recurring sinful thoughts, actions, attitudes and ambitions an exercise in the negative? Aren’t we supposed to always feel good about ourselves and always have a positive self-image? Are not Lent and Holy Week out of step with postmodern,
Individualized, “have it your way” spiritualities?
THAT IS EXACTLY THE POINT? Lent and Holy Week are designed to challenge our tendency to look at the other person’s sins and failings as worse than our own. Lent and Holy Week stretch our understandings and self-perceptions. For those convinced of their own “decency”, Lent and Holy Week proclaim that NO one can measure up to God’s perfect standard. For those who are weighed down by never ending guilt, Lent and Holy Week become the mirror of Christ’s gracious forgiveness. Jesus’ Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector and Philippians chapter 3 illustrate this so well!
Lent and Holy Week are necessary preparations and spiritual disciplines for the joy to be experienced by Easter Sunday. Lenten disciplines and Holy Week worship tell the world that Easter means Jesus Christ has risen and reigns in glory as Lord of All. Lenten disciplines and Holy Week worship tell the world that Easter signifies that all who confess Jesus Christ as Lord have the promise of eternal life NOW. Witness is given to our skeptical world that the Risen One becomes our righteousness. All of our self-esteem and positive thoughts come through the presence of Jesus alone and from the Holy Spirit within us.
Paul reminds us of these truths in Colossians 3: 1-3; 12-16
So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life.
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. Cultivate thankfulness and sing your hearts out to God!
(translation from The Message: the Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene Peterson)