The Great Week

Although the reading of the Passion takes place on Palm Sunday, the Gospel of the mass is read directly after the blessing of the palms. This Gospel tells the story of the entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem. It is a deeply prophetic moment. A moment that Jesus has deliberately and specifically designed for the people who have the eyes to see and the ears to hear to comprehend. It is Matthew who tells us that this moment is the fulfilment of the prophetic words of Zechariah, a prophet who was writing in the aftermath of the return of the Jews from their Babylonian exile, approximately 600 years before Jesus. During this time, the Temple was being rebuilt, to provide a fitting place for the worship of God. The prophecy speaks of the restoration and redemption of the people, bringing them home and gathering them anew, ending with a proclamation stating that “when that day comes, there will be no more trading in the Temple” – prophetic words indeed! We know that following on from Jesus’ acclaimed entry into Jerusalem, he goes to the Temple and begins to upset the traders’ tables, another clear sign to the people of what is happening. Thus, begins this tumultuous week.

If you can, take out some time on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week to read the reading and gospel of the day. I think you will find them inspiring. The Servant songs of Isaiah are set alongside the gospel narrative of the days before the passion, in which Jesus acts with a clear intent, to allow those around him to witness what he had already told them would happen. Allow the words to penetrate your thoughts, to shape your understanding of what is being revealed. A battle is being waged, a conflict is in progress, the powers and authorities conspiring against the truth which Jesus proclaimed. Put yourself alongside the familiar characters of the story and image how you would have felt and how you would have responded. Then pause and ask yourself is this still happening today?

What is your answer? Can we see in these events similar battles and conflicts that are still being fought? Oh, how timidly we fail to take on board the message, how reluctant we are to assert our belief and faith in the one who comes in the name of the Lord. This great week, this holy week is a moment for us too, to drive out the traders from our own individual temples, and to fix our eyes on Jesus, who set his face like flint, knowing his vindicator is close at hand. We need to enter this passion. We need to come and give witness on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday...