Holy Week

In the days leading up to Easter, Christians focus on the breadth of life—on joy, betrayal, death, and resurrection. This special time begins on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025.

This time is marked by deep reflection, remembrance, and celebration of the central events of the Christian faith: the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. From Palm Sunday to Easter, believers are taken on a spiritual journey that touches on both historical and contemporary theological dimensions.

Palm Sunday: A King on a Donkey

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a scene recorded by all four Gospels in the New Testament. The crowd welcoming Jesus scatters palm branches along his path and acclaims him as the Messiah, but the manner of his entry—on a humble donkey—suggests the reversal of worldly understandings of power. In this act, one will see a demonstration of divine humility and peacefulness, which distinguishes the true King of the Jews from earthly rulers.

The Last Supper

On Thursday, Christians commemorate the Last Supper, which Jesus celebrated with his disciples. This day underscores the institution of the Eucharist, one of the sacraments of the Church, and emphasizes the importance of communion and service to others, symbolized by the washing of feet. Through this action, Jesus casts aside the raiment of his divine glory and put on the garb of a slave. He came down to the extreme lowliness of our fall. He kneels before us and carries out for us the service of a slave: he washes our dirty feet so that we might be admitted to God’s banquet and be made worthy to take our place at his table — something that on our own we neither could nor would ever be able to do. God is not a remote God, too distant or too great to be bothered with our trifles. Since God is great, he can also be concerned with small things. Since he is great, the soul of man, the same man, created through eternal love, is not a small thing but great, and worthy of God’s love.

Holy Friday: The Cross as Victory and Sacrifice

Friday is at the centre of Holy Week. On this day, the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross are commemorated. It is a day of silence, devotion, and fasting, reminding believers of the profound love of God, manifested in the sacrifice of his Son. Death is not the last word, because life will be victorious at the end. This certainty of ours is based not on simple human reasoning, but on a historical fact of faith: Jesus Christ, crucified and buried, is risen with his glorified body. Jesus is risen so that we too, believing in him, may have eternal life. This proclamation is at the heart of the Gospel message.

Holy Saturday: The Silence of the Grave

Saturday is a day of quiet hope and waiting. The Church remains at the tomb of Jesus, awaiting his resurrection. This day symbolizes the “dark night of the soul,” which is nevertheless permeated by the certainty of hope. Theologians see this waiting as a metaphor for the human experience of loss and grief, which is overcome by trust in God’s promises.

Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord

The culmination of Holy Week is Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. This event is central to the Christian faith, proclaiming the final defeat of death and the hope of eternal life. Paul emphasizes the resurrection as the foundation of Christian hope and identity. If we take away Christ and his resurrection, there is no escape for us, and every one of human hopes remains an illusion.
Holy Week offers an opportunity to deepen and reflect on the central aspects of the Christian faith. It invites believers to retrace the path of Jesus—from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem through his suffering and death to his glorious resurrection. This season encourages a renewal of faith, hope, and love, which are the cornerstones of the Christian message.

Fr Joe