How In the World Do We Live Out This Holy Week?

I think it’s safe to say that most of us started Lent 2020 off with good intentions and zeal. I always look forward to Lent as it is a time that really feeds my soul. However, around mid-March the proverbial dog-doo hit the fan. Hard.

All of a sudden we were plunged into a seriously legit Lent: No school, no get-togethers, no sports, lost jobs, lost lives, stay-at-home orders, and no Mass. Lest we thought we were all big and bad with our personal sacrifices started on Ash Wednesday, COVID-19 came along and said, “I think I’ll take your Lent and raise it up a notch.” Boy, did it.

Now, we are standing at the front of Holy Week and most of us feel a little lost. There will be no Masses for us to attend in person this week which, in a way, feels like punishment. The fact that we can’t attend Easter services in person hurts immensely. But, through all this, I have been reminded of all those Christians who throughout time have found a way to persevere when the Mass wasn’t readily available to attend in person.

Think of the Polish living under Communist Russia.

Think of the Catholics who pioneered across the United States, many times going months and months without a priest to offer them the Sacraments.

Think of the Christians today living in parts of the world where Mass is not only not available but it is a crime to even hold it.

Think of the Christians living under the persecutions of the Roman Empire.

In each of these instances, the faith of Catholics was/is tested and strengthened. They found/find creative ways to celebrate the Mass and show Christ that they long to be with Him. In ancient Roman times, Mass was conducted secretly in catacombs. Today, we are watching from home while streaming Mass online. All to be close to Him.

This is the point of Lent though, isn’t it? We are to go into the desert with Christ and join our suffering to His suffering. Up and down the ages, the saints have rejoiced when allowed the chance to suffer for Christ. It took a long time for me to understand how you could be joyful in suffering. I have read the words of numerous saints who have said, “Thank you, Lord, for allowing me the opportunity to suffer and unite this suffering to Yours.” It seems so paradoxical that great joy can come of suffering, but it’s only true when done right.

This is our chance, Catholic Pilgrims, to show up in our Faith. This is a chance to say, “You may take away my church building but I will only create it in my home. Evil may think its tamped down our flame but its only made it burn stronger.”

My daughter’s priest gave an excellent homily yesterday on Palm Sunday. He talked about how we all have passions: some are passionate about the sports we play or watch, some for their jobs, some for school and learning, and some for entertainment. Much of all these passions have been stripped from us during this time of social distancing and quarantine. Some of us don’t know what to do with ourselves when our passions have been taken from us. Who are we when we don’t have school to attend? Who are we when we don’t have sports to participate in or look forward to watching? Who are we when we can’t work or are required to work very differently than what we are used to? Who are we when we can’t operate our daily lives in our normal way?

The thing is, Christ’s Passion is all about us. He came to earth, suffered, was tortured, and ultimately crucified for every single person that has lived, is living, or will ever live. He restored us as sons and daughters of God again through His Death and Resurrection. Our passion should be to live as faithful Christians through good times and bad, through better or worse, through sickness and in health. Sound familiar? It is through our Baptism that we have been united to Christ and it is through our Confirmation that we are given the strength to live our Christian identity through trials and fire. It doesn’t matter what comes our way, we know who we are–Christians.

For all the naysayers out there that are looking for our faith to crumble, we must show them what we do when times get hard. We dig in deeper. For all those that sneer at us and say, “Oh, where is your God now?” We show them by the witness of our lives that He lives in us.

So, how do we approach this Holy Week? First, I think it is important to remember that you don’t have to do *all* the things to try to prove you are really into it. Sometimes less is more. Quality over quantity is usually a recipe for meaningful experiences. I would suggest praying the Sorrowful Mysteries on your rosary every day this week. Starting Monday, I will post each day at least one picture from the Holy Land on my social media accounts that correspond with Christ’s Passion. By Friday, you will have several pictures to meditate on. If you need help with praying the Rosary, the app Hallow is a great resource. You can try it free for several months.

I would, also, suggest watching daily Mass this week if you can. If you can’t commit to a whole week of Daily Mass, at least try for two days. Our lives have been reduced to simplicity these past weeks, maybe that is for a reason. It is in this simplicity that we can draw closer to Christ and maybe really hear what He has to tell us.

This is a Holy Week we will never forget and I assure you that in time, we will look back on it fondly. We are all saddened by not getting to participate inside our beloved churches with our priests, but we will get back there. Until then, our domestic churches are being called to rise up. We are the Body of Christ, Catholic Pilgrims, and this is the most important week in our calendar. Let’s make it meaningful, powerful, reverent, joyful, and passionate for love of God.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18