This week someone may walk up to you and say, “We'll have to miss soccer practice because it's Maundy Thursday.” Or “Count us out of the party Friday night because it's Good Friday.”

It's a riddle, right? Well, no, not exactly. And it's not a secret code for covert activities, either. What it is is Holy Week, and that may sound just as strange, but it really needn't.

As far back as the fourth century Christians used the week before Easter as a time both to remember and re-create the significant events in the life of Christ that preceded his resurrection.

So, on the Sunday before Easter Jesus' triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem is celebrated with a procession of palms, thus claiming the name Palm Sunday, the beginning of what is called “Holy Week.” Even though the service begins in a festive mood, the transition is made to a more solemn theme as the Passion story (meaning “suffering”) is read and becomes the basis for meditation.

Ancient Christian communities and some contemporary ones have special services every day of Holy Week, but the next major event falls on Thursday. By Biblical account it was on Thursday night when Jesus and his disciples ate the meal of the traditional Jewish feast of the Passover, which celebrated salvation from slavery in Egypt.

It was at this meal that Jesus did two very significant things. First, he washed the feet of his disciples, which was a rather strange turn of events for a rabbi (teacher) to wash the feet of his students. Jesus then commanded that they live their lives symbolically washing the feet of others, thus making a life of service “mandatory” for them.

Second, at this meal Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and declared it to be his Body, which was to be broken for the forgiveness of sin. Then, he took wine, gave thanks, and declared it to be the “New Covenant of his Blood” or new method of salvation. He also made the continued eating and drinking of bread and wine for his remembrance mandatory for his followers, thus instituting what Christians call Holy Communion.

These instances of Jesus' commands or that which he made mandatory give the name “Maundy Thursday.” Many Christians have a special service on this day for symbolic foot washing and Holy Communion. Some even have a “Seder supper” to re-create the entire Passover supper concluding with Holy Communion, as Christ did.

The next day is strangely called “Good Friday.” But the name is not so strange in the hearts and minds of Christians because of the faith that sees the suffering and death of Jesus by crucifixion on the cross as the way by which God reconciled and restored the world to his perfect will.

“Good Friday” is also an appropriate name for the day because without the events of Good Friday, there could be no true understanding of the joy and celebration of the festival of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Some Christians worship in a three-hour service from noon until 3 p.m., representing the time Jesus was on the cross, while others use a “Tenebrae” service of diminishing lights and “shadows” to meditate upon the seven last words of Christ from the cross. In any event, Good Friday is the most solemn day in the church year.

Saturday an “Easter vigil” is conducted by many in the church as a time to watch and pray as the glorious events of Easter approach. In the ancient church this was a time of Baptism, Confirmation, and restoration of waywards back into the fold.

Of course, Easter Sunday completes the divine drama. No greater joy is seen in the Christian Church than on this “queen of festivals.” Trumpets sound, voices are raised, life and hope are preached, and now the Body and Blood of the risen Christ are shared.

A whole season of Easter, continuing for seven weeks until Pentecost (“50 days”), is marked by many.

OK, so you might miss soccer practice or one Friday night party — or maybe you won't — but you'll understand why some of the rest of us will.

Kollmeyer is senior pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Ga. Highway 314 in Fayetteville, and invites the community to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter services. Phone the church office at 770-461-3403 for schedules and times.

Back to News Home Page | Back to the top of the page