Walking the Way of Holy Week: The History, Theology, and Liturgy of Our Sacred Days
Holy Week is the most profound and transformative time in the Christian calendar. It is the heart of our faith, inviting us into the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each day holds deep theological significance, shaped by centuries of tradition and the ever-renewing work of God in the world. As we walk through Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the Easter Vigil, we are not just recalling events of the past—we are entering a sacred mystery that continues to shape our lives today.
Palm Sunday: The Paradox of a King on a Donkey
Liturgical Elements:
- The service begins with the Liturgy of the Palms, often outside, where we bless palm branches and process into the church, reenacting Jesus’ triumphal entry.
- The Passion Narrative is read in full, shifting the mood from joyful expectation to sorrowful reflection.
- The congregation often takes part in the reading, with different voices portraying the roles of Jesus, the disciples, the crowd, and Pilate, helping us to embody the drama of Holy Week.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowds spread their cloaks on the road and waved palm branches, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9, NRSV). On the surface, it appears to be a royal procession—yet Jesus rides not on a warhorse, but on a humble donkey.
This act fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah:
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! … Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9, NRSV).
Palm Sunday holds a paradox—celebration tinged with impending sorrow. The same crowds who cheer Jesus will soon cry for his crucifixion. Theologically, Palm Sunday challenges us to examine our expectations of God. Jesus’ kingship is not about domination but about self-giving love. His power is revealed in humility, and his path to victory leads through suffering.
Maundy Thursday: The Mandate to Love and Serve
Liturgical Elements:
- The Foot Washing follows Jesus’ command to serve one another.
- The Holy Eucharist is celebrated, marking the institution of the Lord’s Supper.
- The Stripping of the Altar is a powerful act where all vestments, candles, and linens are removed in silence, symbolizing Jesus’ abandonment.
The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning “commandment,” referring to Jesus’ words at the Last Supper:
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34, NRSV).
This day commemorates two significant acts: the institution of the Eucharist and Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet. In breaking the bread and sharing the cup, Jesus transforms the Passover meal, offering himself as the true nourishment of life. His words—“Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19, NRSV)—invite us into an ongoing participation in his presence.
The Profound Symbolism of Foot Washing
Foot washing is perhaps the most challenging yet transformative part of the Maundy Thursday liturgy. It is uncomfortable, intimate, and humbling—which is precisely the point.
Many people resist this practice. The idea of exposing one’s feet—often seen as dirty or unworthy—to another’s hands is too personal. But this is the exact discomfort Jesus asks us to embrace. When Peter objected, saying, “You will never wash my feet,” Jesus responded, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me” (John 13:8, NRSV).
Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, knelt before his disciples and washed their feet. If he, the one through whom all things were made, can stoop to serve, then surely we can as well. To wash another’s feet is to imitate Christ, to embody the radical, self-giving love he commands of us. In this act, we confess our vulnerability and offer our devotion—not just to each other, but to Jesus himself.
Good Friday: The Mystery of the Cross
Liturgical Elements:
- The Veneration of the Cross invites the congregation to approach a cross, kneel, touch, or kiss it in reverence.
- The Solemn Collects offer prayers for the world, the church, and all in need.
- The Reproaches recall the suffering of Christ in light of humanity’s betrayal.
Good Friday is the most solemn day of the Christian year. We stand at the foot of the cross and witness Jesus’ suffering and death.
Theologically, Good Friday shatters any illusion that God is distant or uninvolved. In Christ’s suffering, God is fully present, refusing to meet violence with more violence, instead absorbing the world’s cruelty and responding with love.
Holy Saturday: The Descent into Death
Liturgical Elements:
- The church remains in silence. No Eucharist is celebrated.
- The Office of Readings or Morning Prayer may be observed, reflecting on Christ’s burial.
Holy Saturday is a day of waiting and uncertainty. Jesus is in the tomb. His followers are scattered, grieving, and afraid.
The Easter Vigil: Light in the Darkness
Liturgical Elements:
- The Service of Light begins outside with the kindling of the new fire and the lighting of the Paschal Candle.
- The Exsultet, an ancient hymn of resurrection, is sung.
- The Liturgy of the Word recounts salvation history through multiple readings.
- The Renewal of Baptismal Vows or new baptisms take place.
- The first joyful Alleluia of Easter is proclaimed, and the Eucharist is celebrated.
The Easter Vigil is the high point of the Christian year. It begins in darkness, mirroring the emptiness of Holy Saturday. A new fire is lit, and the Paschal candle is carried into the church as we proclaim, “The light of Christ! Thanks be to God!”
Then, with joy, we proclaim:
“Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!”
Living the Story of Holy Week
These sacred days are not just moments to remember but invitations to participate. Palm Sunday calls us to examine our expectations of God. Maundy Thursday invites us into self-giving love. Good Friday asks us to stand in the face of suffering with courage. Holy Saturday teaches us to trust in unseen hope. And the Easter Vigil reveals that even in the deepest darkness, new life is being born.
May we walk this Holy Week not as spectators but as disciples, allowing its truth to shape our lives.
Thanks be to God.