Midwest Mary

Passion Week, or simply, Holy Week.

From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, we meditate upon Jesus’ path to the cross in his last week of human life on earth.

How quickly things appeared to change. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was hailed as the Son of David, the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Less than a week later, the same people demanded Jesus to be crucified.

Every day from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is significant. The exact day on which the events happened is debated among scholars. What is important to remember is that these events are recorded in Scripture as happening during this time period.

Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday are days that are so important that they are known as Triduum, from Latin meaning three days. This indicates the culmination of Jesus’ ministry, his crucifixion, and resurrection.

Following are the basics of what happened each day of Holy Week. I used the Gospel of Mark for reference. However, the other gospels contain pertinent information, as well, so you may want to read them in addition to Mark.

Palm Sunday
In fulfillment of the prophecy that the king would come to them mounted on a donkey, Jesus and his disciples went to the Mount of Olives. Jesus told his disciples to go into the village and untie a donkey that they would find there. If anyone questioned them, they were to say that the Lord needs the donkey.

The disciples placed their cloaks on the donkey and brought it to Jesus as they were told. Jesus mounted that donkey and rode into Jerusalem. In honor of Jesus’ arrival, the crowds covered the road with their cloaks and cut branches. They shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When others asked who Jesus was, they told them that he was the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee. (See Matthew 21:1-11.)

Monday of Holy Week
When Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus was horrified at the outrageous behavior going on there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and sent the men selling doves out of the temple. Jesus called these people robbers in a house of prayer. (See Matthew 21:12-17.)

Tuesday of Holy Week, also known as Fig Tuesday
On Tuesday of Holy Week, we remember when Jesus cursed a fig tree. He was heading back to Jerusalem and was hungry. When he approached the tree, he found it had no fruit, and became angry. He cursed the tree and it withered.

Jesus said that if we have faith, especially when our faith is challenged, whatever we ask for in prayer we will receive. (See Matthew 21:18-22.)

Holy Wednesday, Also Known as Spy Wednesday
Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and asked what they would give him if he betrayed Jesus. The chief priests paid Judas thirty pieces of silver. (See Matthew 26:14-16.)

Holy Thursday, also called Maundy (Mandate) Thursday
At the Passover dinner with his disciples, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. Simon Peter resisted when Jesus approached him, but Jesus said he must show them how to serve each other because we are all equal. Jesus told them to love one another as he loved them. (See John 13:1-38.)

Then, while they were eating, Jesus broke the bread and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” He took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (See Matthew 26:17-29.)

Jesus said one of them would betray him and all would desert him. Every disciple declared that it would not be him. Peter was emphatic that he’d never deny his lord. Jesus responded that before the cock crows, Peter would deny him three times. (See Matthew 26: 17-35.)

Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed. He said that he was anxious about what was to happen and asked his disciples to pray with him. But three times he found them asleep. (See Matthew 36-46.)

Then a crowd with clubs and swords arrived. Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek and told the guards to arrest him.

Jesus was brought to Caiaphas, the high priest. Caiaphas said, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (See Matthew 26: 47-68.)

The high priest and the crowd charged Jesus with blasphemy. Peter denied Christ three times as was predicted (Matthew 26:69-75). And Judas went back to the chief priests and elders, admitted that he lied to them, and returned the silver. But the priests and elders would not take the money or recant Judas’ lies. Ashamed of his betrayal, Judas hung himself.

Good Friday
Jesus was bound and brought to Pilate, the governor. Pilate asked Jesus if he was the King of the Jews, and Jesus responded, “You say so.” When Jesus was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Pilate asked if Jesus wanted to defend himself, but Jesus remained silent.

Pilate realized that Jesus was accused because the priests were jealous of him. Pilate’s wife told her husband not to get involved. She had terrible dreams about Jesus. So, Pilate asked the crowd if he should release Jesus or Barabbas, a notorious prisoner. He then asked what he should do with Jesus, and the crowd shouted to crucify him.

To prevent a riot, Pilate told the crowd that he was innocent of Jesus’ blood. He had Jesus flogged and handed over to be crucified.

The soldiers stripped Jesus, put a scarlet robe and crown of thorns on him, hit him, spat at him, and mocked him. They sent him to be crucified. The sky became dark. After six hours on the cross, Jesus passed away at 3 PM.

When it was evening, Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body, wrapped it in linen, and laid him in his own tomb. He rolled a large rock in front of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained outside the tomb. (See Matthew 27: 11-61.)

Holy Saturday
The day after Jesus’ crucifixion, the chief priests and Pharisees reminded Pilate that Jesus said he would arise from the dead after three days. They commanded the tomb secured so no one could steal the body and say that Jesus had risen. Pilate had the tomb secured by sealing the stone. (See Matthew 27:62-66.)

Easter Sunday
Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, went to Jesus’ tomb. They heard an earthquake and saw an angel with clothes as white as snow. The angel had rolled back the stone and sat on it. The guards became afraid, but the angel told the women not to worry. Jesus was risen and left the tomb.

The angel told the women to go quickly and tell the others. Jesus met the women on their way to the disciples, and the women worshiped him. Jesus told them to tell the others to meet him in Galilee. (See Mark 28:1-10.)

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Jesus is thought to have traveled down a street in Jerusalem from his sentencing and persecution to Calvary, or Golgotha, just outside of Jerusalem’s walls where he was crucified. This path is referred to as the Via Dolorosa, which is Latin for the Sorrowful Way or Way of Suffering. To pray the Stations of the Cross as I did in Jerusalem, see my post, “Via Dolorosa.” You also may pray along with the Sorrowful Mysteries in my book, The Rosary Prayer by Prayer.

**Photos by Mary K. Doyle
-Site of the Fourth Station of the Cross, also known as the point where Jesus met his mother on the road to his crucifixion
-Street in Jerusalem
-Garden of Gethsemane
-Tree with the thorns as used in Jesus’ crown
-Beginning of the Via Dolorosa.