| Mon Apr 14 | am: 51 pm: 69:1-23 | Jer 12:1-16 | Phil 3:1-14 | John 12:9-19 |
MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK
LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: For many people the observation of Holy Week is simply about the Sacred Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Great Vigil/Easter Proclamation. But to forgo the full liturgical development of the Holy Week may result in missing the full eschatological meaning of Pascha. So often the Holy Week is considered one of the “beautiful traditions” or “customs,” but the context is not just the last three days it is also the themes of the first three days of Great Monday, Great Tuesday and Great Wednesday.
As early as the fourth century, St. John Chrysostom referred to Holy Week as The Great Week, “Not that it has more days in it than other weeks, or that its days are made up of more hours than other days; but we call it great, because of the great mysteries which are then celebrated” [Homily 30, on Genesis]. In other Christian cultures we find the week before Easter referred to by several names such as the Painful Week because of the sufferings of the Christ and of the fatigue and physical sacrifice required of the faithful in them. It is curious to note that on Holy Monday, the Orthodox Church remembers the cursing of the fig tree. This story of the fig tree reminds us that the symbol of the call of the world to bear spiritual fruits and our failure in response to God.
MEDITATION OF THE DAY: While the lesson from Philippians is very powerful it is also difficult because the way Paul frames being a Christian is to make a write off and deduct all as “LOSS”. It seems this should help us face the realities of this week and this life and how to prepare to suffer.
For some, suffering is simply nothing more than the taking away of bad things or good things that the world offers for our enjoyment, reputation, esteem among peers, job, money, spouse, sexual life, children, friends, health, strength, sight, hearing, success, etc. As we have had to learn in this economy of the last few years, there are moments when things are taken away that we feel the sting of suffering. Paul is reminding us this week to enter into full life with Christ and the full mystery of these days we have already counted the losses because we possess the value of gaining Christ.
As this week reminds us that the pain and the sorrow may be great, but we must know that the value of Christ surpasses all the things the world can offer and that in losing them we gain more of Christ. The other section that garners attention is when Paul says that he wants to know more than anything else Christ and the power of His resurrection. That pretty much sets the tone for Holy Week!
PRAYER OF THE DAY: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, though in our weakness we fail, we may be revived through the Passion of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: ““Christ, like a skillful physician, understands the weakness of humanity. He loves to teach the ignorant and the erring he turns again to his own true way. He is easily found by those who live by faith and to those of pure eye and holy heart, who desire to knock at the door, he opens immediately.” -St. Hyppolytus.
HOLY WEEK DISCIPLINE – Spring housecleaning is an ancient tradition, going back to the customs of the Jewish families in preparation for the Pascha. Let it be a day where you clean the place you avoid the most and use that time for cleaning to consider what in life reflects the hidden debris of your soul.
SONG FOR THE SEASON: My Song Is Love Unknown