Lenten Meditations: Tuesday in Holy Week

Apr 7, 2020 by Jill

HOLY TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:   In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic church and  Eastern Catholic Churches (that follow the Oriental or  Byzantine Rite), this day is referred to as Great and Holy Tuesday, or Great Tuesday. On this day the Church commemorates the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), which forms one of the themes of the first three days of Holy Week, with its teaching about vigilance, and Christ as the Bridegroom. The bridal chamber is used as a symbol not only of the Tomb of Christ, but also of the blessed state of the saved on the Day of Judgement. The theme of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) is also developed in the hymns of this day. This is in contrast to the Western Chruch ( Latin Rite Anglican and Old Catholics) where typically there has been a simple observance of the Daily Offices . Recently the Liturgy for the blessing of the sacred oils known as the Chrism Mass has moved to Tuesday in Holy Week as a way to mark Tuesday in Holy Week.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: Our hope for deliverance is a desire that is very acute right now and goes to the heart of Holy Week and so this journey is timely. It is not easy to trust in  the promise of hope in the face of such a global crisis  where individuals and communities are  filled with so much brokenness and so much pain due to COVID 19 . Repeatedly the question is rising from the hearts of many . Who do we trust for an answer? Is there any hope?

St. Paul urges us in 2 Corinthians to trust in God as the only source of hope, he writes in verse 9:  “Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.  But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” Paul given his life journey knew that he was dependent on more than himself and others but upon the grace of God.  Time and time again in his difficulties  he realized that the only one who could truly help was the God who has the power over sin and death. Certainly, Paul learned that our God has the mighty power to deliver in two ways that perhaps are wothy of our reflection in this present time.

First, God has the power to deliver us from any trouble of this life.  But secondly, he has the mighty power to deliver us from this life itself and to eternal life.  Thus, when we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Deliver us from evil,” we aren’t just asking that God would deliver us from our worldly problems, but we are praying that God would deliver us from this evil world and take us to the glories of heaven.

PRAYER OF THE DAY: Almighty, everlasting God, grant us so perfectly to follow the passion of our Lord, that we may obtain the help and pardon of his all-sufficient grace; through him who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the holy Spirit, world without end.  Amen.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “In tribulation immediately draw near to God with confidence, and you will receive strength, enlightenment, and instruction.” –Saint John of the Cross, 1591

Holy Week Discipline – Where has a lack of trust y been lacking in your life? Where has doubt won the day? Can you make a list as to what the cost has been for lacking trust? To assist you for Spy Wednesday Reconciliation of a Penitent, consider undertaking an examination of conscience to help you make ready for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

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