The Ugliness of Holy Week

"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"~Hebrews 12:1-3 MSG

I find myself in the midst of Holy Week dwelling on the word Holy. When I think of something Holy, I think of something reverent that I should respect and uphold in my life. It also signals that it is a time to be attentive as I watch, listen, and participate in what is happening around me. Ironically, the days of Holy Week leading up to the Easter miracle are filled with pain, suffering, injustice, betrayal, and shame. These are not words I generally associate with holy.


My husband's favorite scripture is Hebrews 12:1-3, and this scripture has such deep and intense meaning especially when applied to Holy Week.  I used the translation from the Message Bible because it is so raw and demanding. It takes on the ugliness of Holy Week, yet ends with an Easter message. Is it fitting that we call it Holy Week? Perhaps, it is that ugliness that leaves us grasping for the Holy. The sins known and unknown in our lives are a parallel to the rawness of Holy Week. We'd like to forget all about them, and focus on Easter. However, that's not the way the story goes.


A childhood memory surfaces that I would honestly like to forget, but there seems to be some reason it refuses to leave. Rarely in the 60s and 70s, did families have all new furniture in their homes and even less often in families with young children. As I entered Jr. High, my parents purchased their first ever brand "new" end tables and a coffee table. They were beautiful quality, and my parents had worked very hard to earn the funds to purchase this furniture. One Saturday afternoon, when my parents weren't at home, I decided to remove the fingernail polish from my fingers. I sat the nail polish remover on the new coffee table and was carefully removing the polish from my fingers, and in a split moment, it seemed my world changed. The nail polish remover spilled onto the new coffee table, and even though I quickly grabbed something to wipe it off, it damaged the varnish layer of the wood. I remember at that moment I wanted to die. I felt strongly that this was something that I could never tell my parents, and my only solutions were to either run away, die, or think of how my parents were going to punish me.  The latter seemed the worst scenario, but I knew what I had to do.


The confession was a difficult one. I remember thinking I should have ran, but I didn't. I had to face the harsh punishment that was the result of me not thinking through all that could happen with that nail polish remover. I had to go through the ugly to reach that inner peace that allowed me to move on with hope that my tomorrows would bring better days ahead.


Holy Week reminds me of those moments when we sin. Sometimes we can't see beyond what we've done, but we have a Savior that sends a strong message to each of us that regardless of what we've done, if we repent and confess our sins, we will be forgiven. He will also give us the strength we need to face each day and forgive us when our plans fail even when they are accidental failures. Yes, it's that ugliness and brokenness that leads us to the beauty of Easter. It is only when we understand the journey getting there that we truly come to appreciate and value the gift of the seemingly unbearable sacrifice.


Holy is a way to look at this week of ugliness. It's a time to be attentive to what we've been blessed to receive. Even a midst the sin of our lives, our Savior reminds us that he died for that ugliness. It was a painful death, and it was to put our sins to death. Yes, it is a week of Holiness, and I'm thankful that it's a story that is told over and over again. 


Sacrificing Father,
As we face the rawness and ugliness of Holy Week, may You lead us to the cross where You suffered, so that we can truly come to know the deep Love you have for us. May we rest assured that in our brokenness, You will provide everything we need to find the gift of Easter in our daily lives. 
In Jesus Name We Pray,
Amen