Bishop Ward’s prayer for you is that your journey in this Holy Week will be a journey of life, of love, of hope, and of joy as you consider Psalm 118.
“This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” These words from Psalm 118 are in our hearts, our minds, and upon our lips as we began this most holy of weeks.
It is the joyful proclamation of a Palm Sunday parade as children waved palm branches, as cloaks were laid in the path of a donkey. Jesus rode into the city to shouts of “Hosanna!” Psalm 118 is lifted on the voices of those who proclaim that this is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We move now through the dark days of Holy Week, the days darkening day by day, as those closest to Jesus turn away, deny, and betray him; as those opposed to him accuse and vilify and finally, nail him to a cross.
We will watch very soon with his mother and the women at the foot of the cross and we will awake early on Easter Sunday with the rising sun, proclaiming with all creation, the victory of God in Jesus Christ.
And on that day, we will say again, with confident hearts, “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” For Easter is, indeed, God’s victorious day.
We worship on Sundays because of this day, the eighth day, the day of God’s redeeming, victorious, and creative love. Our whole life is illuminated in Easter joy and light.
My prayer for you this day is that your journey in this Holy Week will be a journey of life, of love, of hope, and of joy. May God’s greatest gifts be upon you as Easter dawns.