For the time being, Christians, and indeed members of all religions throughout the world, are not allowed to gather together for communal prayer. This means that Christians cannot gather for the communal celebration of Holy Week and Easter.

This circumstance has highlighted for all of us the importance of preserving life in the midst of so much suffering and death. All our efforts nowadays are focussed on keeping people alive and healthy.

Holy Week, Easter, and the gift of the life of Jesus to our world prompts the question, “What does it mean to be fully alive?” Our current situation has made the answer to this question very clear to us:

We are fully alive when we can again:

• Embrace each other with a kiss and a hug
• Share a meal together
• Go outside and play in the park with many friends
• Attend Mass at a Church
• Go to a crowded shopping centre
• Attend a routine visit to the doctor
• Watch a film in the cinema …

So how can we stay “fully alive” during these days of isolation, disconnection and unfamiliar ways of behaving and interacting?

To begin with, we need to note that any faith journey—for any religion—is an inner journey. This inner journey of faith is also a journey undertaken with someone. In the case of Christianity, we undertake our faith journey with Jesus. Christians also undertake their inner faith journey with the support of the Christian community of believers.

Jesus is for us the one who offers us life to the fullest. The celebration of Holy Week and Easter is for Christians a bringing to life the core beliefs and the essence of their faith. Let us therefore ponder and prayerfully experience the Holy Week and Easter stories.

Prayer

God of life, you are the God of peace, justice and stability.
Guide us during this time of trial and keep us safe.
We call to mind the words of the prayer your Son taught us:
“lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Save us from all harm so that we may have life and have it to the full.
We make our prayer in Jesus’ name
and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen.

The Last Supper

A reading from the holy gospel according to John (13:1-15)

While they were eating, Jesus stood up and took off his robe. He got a towel and wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers’ feet. He dried their feet with the towel that was wrapped around his waist.

He came to Simon Peter. But Peter said to him, “Lord, you should not wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “You don’t know what I am doing now. But later you will understand.” Peter said, “No! You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “If I don’t wash your feet, you are not one of my people.” Simon Peter said, “Lord, after you wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!”

Jesus said, “After a person has a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs only to wash his feet. And you are clean, but not all of you.” Jesus knew who would hand him over to his enemies. That is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

When Jesus finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and went back to the table. He asked, “Do you understand what I did for you? You call me ‘Teacher.’ And you call me ‘Lord.’ And this is right, because that is what I am. I am your Lord and Teacher. But I washed your feet. So you also should wash each other’s feet. I did this as an example for you. So you should serve each other just as I served you.”

Reflection on the Gospel

John’s account of the Last Supper does not mention that part of the meal at which point Jesus offered to the Apostles the gift of his eternal presence in the form of Eucharistic Bread and Wine. Jesus says, “Take this bread and eat of it, for this is my Body.” Similarly, Jesus says, “Take and drink from this cup of wine for this is my Blood which I offer in sacrifice to you and for all time.” Every Eucharist that is offered is the Last Supper happening again and again and again. The events of the Last Supper are eternal.

In this time of COVID-19, we do not have access to Holy Communion. The challenge we now face is to put into practice that which John’s Gospel does describe at the Last Supper: the washing of the feet. Jesus washed the feet of his closest friends as a humble act of service. Having washed their feet, Jesus says to his Apostles, “If I, your Lord and Master have washed your feet, how much more should you wash each other’s feet?”

Good Friday

A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark. (15:22-39)

They led Jesus to the place called Golgotha. (Golgotha means “The Place of the Skull”). There the soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they nailed Jesus to the cross.

At noon the whole country became dark. This darkness continued until three o’clock. At three o’clock Jesus cried out loudly, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani.” This means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Some of the people standing there heard this. They said, “Listen! He is calling Elijah.” One man there ran and got a sponge. He filled the sponge with sour wine and tied it to a stick. Then he used the stick to give the sponge to Jesus to get a drink from it. The man said, “We should wait now and see if Elijah will come to take him down from the cross.”

Then Jesus cried out loudly and died.

When Jesus died, the curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces. The tear started at the top and tore all the way to the bottom. The army officer who was standing there in front of the cross saw what happened when Jesus died. The officer said, “This man really was the Son of God!”

Reflection on the Gospel

Jesus having been crucified is a tragedy as it is the product of humanity at its worst. Jesus dying on the Cross is the result of humanity’s pursuit of selfish interests rather than pursuing what is good and right and just for humanity.

Life in the time of COVID-19 has shown that humanity can be at its worst and also at its best. Humanity is at its worst when we are selfish. We are at our best when we look to the example of Jesus as the one who lived life with care, compassion, wisdom, and self-sacrifice. Holy Week and the Easter event help us to make sense of the saying of Jesus: “Those who save their life will lose it and those who lose their life for the sake of the Kingdom of God will save it.”

We build up the Kingdom of God with every act of kindness, with every pursuit of justice, with every expression of peace, with every act of compassion.

Universal Prayer

Our God is the Lord of life and holiness. With trust and hope in God, we confidently place before him our needs and the needs of our troubled world.

For the sick: that they recover from their illness and be restored to fullness of health. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.

For doctors, medical staff and all health workers: that they have the capacity to continue to undertake their work in safety. Lord, grant them strength and bless them with your healing touch. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.

For political and religious leaders throughout the world: that they demonstrate wisdom, compassion, and integrity in their decision making in this time of uncertainty. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the gift of family: that families live harmoniously and support one another during these extraordinary times. In particular, bless parents with patience and understanding as they home school their children so that they manage this important role. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the unemployed: that they be appropriately and compassionately cared for and protected by a kind society and through the generosity of others. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.

For workers: that they be kept safe as they continue to provide that which is essential for the good of others. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who have passed away due to COVID-19: that they may be at peace in the loving embrace of the God who offers Eternal Life. May they be duly remembered and honoured with an appropriate funeral service whenever that may be able to occur. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.

Prayer

God of peace, justice and stability,
shower us with your grace
as we live through this time of trial and isolation.
Strengthen each of us to show loving care towards each other.
Protect the doctors and nurses
who are your instruments of healing in our broken world.
Restore for us the joy of fulness of life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Jesus story does not end with his Crucifixion. On Easter Sunday all Christians will rejoice in the joy of the Resurrection. Jesus is the Son of the God of Life. Jesus rose from the dead because the promises of God, his Father, were fulfilled. That is, those who live a life of love will live forever.