Holy Week Blessings
A reflection on the meaning of Holy Week by Senior Warden, Brad Flynt
As Holy Week approaches, it has given me an opportunity to reflect on how meaningful the Holy Week services are at St. John’s.
Last year, Adair and I attended our first Maundy Thursday service and were blown away by its beauty and humility. The word “Maundy” derives from the Latin mandatum (which translates to “command”), a reference to Jesus’ instruction to love one another, and this service provides us with that opportunity. Just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, I experienced the raw vulnerability of washing the feet of a fellow parishioner at the service, which gave me the chance to reflect deeply on the example of service and love that Jesus set. It is one of the most unique and powerful services of the year, and I cannot recommend it enough.
The Maundy Thursday service sets the tone for what follows on Good Friday. The Good Friday service provides us with the opportunity to contemplate the gravity of the sacrifice Jesus made. Attending the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services on consecutive days gives you a real sense of the timing of the events surrounding Jesus’ death.
All of these somber and intense moments build toward the joy and celebration of Easter, when we come together to rejoice in the jubilant return of Jesus. Each service offers a unique and powerful experience and serves as a reminder of Jesus’ core commandment to his disciples: “Love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34).
Wishing you all a blessed Holy Week,
Brad
Senior Warden, vestry
