This weekend begins our journey through Holy Week.   Before celebrating the joy of the Resurrection, we must first walk that difficult path with Jesus.  We begin the journey with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where he was met with people waving palm branches and joyfully singing Hosanna.  But we know how the story ends, how quickly good intention people can change.  Those joyful songs were soon replaced with angry cries of Crucify him! Crucify Him!
 
Jesus spent time trying to prepare the disciples for all that would unfold in their lives, yet they failed to understand.  He was betrayed, mocked, and crucified and most of his friends fled in fear, leaving him to walk the journey to the cross alone.  We may wonder how his friends could have left him alone, how Judas could have betrayed him, and how Peter could have denied him.  Yet this story continues to play out over and over again throughout history.
 
How often do we turn a blind eye to the suffering of others?  How often do we fail to speak out in the face of injustice?  How often do we fail to see the face of Christ in our immigrant sisters and brothers living in fear of arrest and deportation or with people in the trans community as they are demonized?  How often do we fail to walk the difficult journey with those who are wrongly accused, victimized, or marginalized?  
 
While it is easy to point the finger at those early disciples, Holy Week is a time for us to reflect on how we have embraced the cross in our own lives and lived the transformation of the resurrection.   Just as Jesus prepared the disciples for the suffering he would endure, Jesus also prepares us for the suffering and injustice that plays out in our world today, teaching us how we should see his face in the faces of others.
 
Now is the time for us to reflect on how we live the Good News of the resurrection in our own lives, in the decisions and choices we make each and every day.  If you are anything like me, I am a work in progress.  Like Peter, sometimes I fail to speak out, sometimes I run and hide, sometimes I deny the face of Jesus in the people whom I encounter, and sometimes I just fall short of the mark.  The good news is Jesus is understanding and full of love and compassion.  We cannot forget the first words to his disciples, “Peace be with you.”
 
As we journey through Holy Week, I hope you are able to attend our services on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday as we remember and celebrate the great love of Jesus.  Let us take time to reflect on how we have embraced the cross and allowed ourselves to be transformed by the resurrection, so that we can truly believe, “Hope does not disappoint!”  
 
May God bless you and your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forever more.
 
+ Harry