Holy Week’s Milestones for Discipleship
Easter Message of His Beatitude Patriarch Sako
Note
Liturgically, fasting ends on the eve of Palm Sunday. The days of this Holy Week acquire a festive glamor: the morning Gospel procession with candles, incense burner, and palm branches; the morning ܡܘܬܒܐ hymns, followed by the Vigil hymns ܩܠܐ ܕܫܗܪܐ and the Baptismal Hymn in preparation to celebrate the Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday is named after catechumen who were formed and trained to receive Baptism, the light of faith, on the eve of Easter (See Huthra, Part 2, p. 333).
The milestones of this Holy Week, as narrated in the Gospel, are effective testimonies, far from being routine rituals, it actually represents essential and meaningful liturgy for Christian discipleship. Therefore, and based on its compulsory nature, we should be curious to discover spiritual richness of it.
Jesus is the role model to be emulated. Let us focus on Him in making our decision to be his disciples, in a way that nothing deter us from following Him. Even when we made a mistake, there is always a room for reconciliation.
Gospel readings of this week emphasize themes of great importance for understanding what happened to Jesus, his message, and the attitudes of those around him, it reveals the intentions and true positions: Judas’ betrayal (for money), induced by devil (John 13: 2), leading a crowd to arrest Jesus, and the kiss was a sign —hypocrisy! (Luke 22: 47). The soldiers mocked him. Peter denied him three times, but Jesus’ gaze was enough to restore him “as a new” disciple (Luke 22: 61), later assuming the role of the Head of Jesus Apostles.
Yes, telling the truth is required!
Let us turn to other comforting factors: John the son of Zebedee remained with Jesus whereas other disciples escape; the faithfulness of the women (Marys), followed him as disciples at every stage of his life to the end; Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross on his behalf; Veronica who wiped the blood and sweat from his face, so Jesus imprinted his image not only on her handkerchief, but in her heart. Regarding the attitude of the two thieves crucified with him, the first mocked him, while the second admitted that he had done nothing wrong and asked him: “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23: 42).
The Jewish authorities (priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees, Sadducees, etc.) are working hard to find evidence against Jesus to get rid of him, while the civil authorities (provincial Pilate and King Herod) are playing fox game (Luke 13: 32). Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin (Jewish council), a righteous man who cares about Jesus’ burial (Luke 23: 50-55).
It might be reasonable that we, or those around us, match our manner in a positive or negative way to one of the people mentioned above.
Salvation, Jesus puts a lot of emphasize on salvation, since it was the main purpose of his coming to the earth. Everything happens within the framework of salvation.
Faith, The disciples must work to ensure that their faith does not decline. Faith is a deep feeling, a relationship of love, and trust in God, not a “facade”. Faith is a “being” that guides our behavior, not something we possess and consume.
Prayer, Luke uses the verb pray and the word prayer six times this week. Prayer fortifies us against temptation: “Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test” (Matthew 26: 41). Jesus prays in the Garden of Olives, teaching us to pray intimately to God, especially in difficult times. The disciple must be listening to God to be able to distinguish between the right path and the twisted one. Falling and rising again are signs of repentance and regret. God never closes his door to those who pray.
Jesus has absolute trust in God. Jesus rejected everything (temptations and trials) to remain faithful to God his Father and to his mission. His trust in God was absolute. It is true that joy is absent in suffering, but it returns powerfully with the appearances of the Risen Lord to His disciples.
Holy Week Highlights
Palm Sunday: Jesus enters Jerusalem before his crucifixion, riding a donkey. The crowds cheer and honor him. These cheers are worthless because the same crowds shouted before the Roman governor: “Crucify him, crucify him!” It is a shameful stance!
Among the healings performed by Jesus this week, was the restoration of sight to Timeous’ son (Mark 10: 46-52). We see the blind man throw off his coat (his past) and approach Jesus, calling him “Rabboni” – my Lord, and Jesus healed him. The Gospel says that he followed Jesus on the “way“, i.e., he became his disciple. This is a wonderful gesture, expressing the “discipleship” to which we should aspire.
Holy Thursday, service, is at the heart of Easter celebration, expressed by Jesus’ washing disciples’ feet, “for I am among you as the one who serves” (Luke 22: 27). In the same way: the celebration of the Eucharist (the bread as the given body and the wine as the new covenant, as mentioned in the First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 11/ 23-25, which is traced back to the year 51 AD, i.e. before the Gospel was written), so, communion and unity with Christ in a vertical relationship, while our relationship with each other is horizontal. We should give to those in need from our money and time, like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10): “Go and do likewise, and you will live” (Luke 10: 37).
Jesus mentioned a “new covenant” signifies the rise of a new people beginning with his disciples.
At this Supper, Jesus announces his Testament: “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13: 15) and regarding the Eucharist: “do this in memory of me” (Luke 22: 19).
Therefore, disciples and clergy authority, lies in their commitment to service. For, our priesthood authority does not come from us, but from the One who entrusted it to us: “the root supports you… So do not become haughty“ (Romans 11: 18-20). Our “value” comes from him.
We are simply and joyfully servants of charity, not princes. An attitude of service must override all the rules of wrong behavior to which we have become accustomed. Unfortunately, the danger of overriding the concept of service remains today, just as it was in Jesus’ time (the request of the sons of Zebedee, Mark 10: 35-45).
Death is not the end. Jesus was certain that his life would not end in such a tragic way. We feel from the beginning that there is a move toward victory, toward a different form of existence. Afterward, we saw how the cross was transformed into glory and celebration of resurrection. It is like a second Exodus. Jesus’s apparitions to his disciples give them the strength and joy to embark on a new life and bear witness to him. Their faith and confidence in his resurrection makes them grow, strengthens their relationship with him, and enhances their journey of love for him and for one another.
Happy Easter to you all
especially that Christians around the world are celebrating EASTER together this year.
I wish peace and security for our country and for the troubled world
ملاحظة: هذا الخبر Holy Week’s Milestones for Discipleship نشر أولاً على موقع (البطريركية الكلدانية) ولا يتحمل موقعنا مضمونه بأي شكل من الأشكال. يمكنك الإطلاع على تفاصيل الخبر كما ورد من (مصدر الخبر)
عرضنا لكم أعلاه تفاصيل ومعلومات عن خبر Holy Week’s Milestones for Discipleship . نأمل أن نكون قد تمكنا من إمدادك بكل التفاصيل والمعلومات عن هذا الخبر الذي نشر في موقعنا في قسم أخبار مسيحية. ومن الجدير بالذكر بأن فريق التحرير قام بنقل الخبر وربما قام بالتعديل عليه أو الاقتباس منه ويمكنك قراءة ومتابعة تطورات هذا الخبر من المصدر.
