Holy Week: What to Do, Not What Else to Give Up

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, and in the homily, our parish priest focused on the idea of sacrifice as part of this last week of Lent. He suggested that we deepen our sacrifice, in order to focus on the core meaning of these last days. While I agree in general with what he was saying, I have to admit I am not as inclined to give up things as I am to focus on redirecting effort. Yes, we can turn off the TV or limit our cell phone time-wasting, as he suggested. But I don't see how that is going to honor the life of Jesus. I see where it might provide a setting of fewer external distractions, and in that sense, the suggestions are valid. But I think it would be even better if we focused on doing, instead of not doing.

Giving to the local food pantry, donating time to help someone in need, choosing to work for social change that will benefit more people... those types of things are doing something for others that honors the implied direction in Matthew, when Jesus says,

• “‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life’” (Matthew 25:45-46).
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• I'm pretty sure that God does not keep tally on television watching. He's more pleased when we lend a hand, when we show compassion and interest without calculating what we may benefit from the situation, when we seek to right injustice. We need to practice a little more patience with each other in these difficult times, and from that, all good will flow more easily.

Have a blessed Holy Week,

C

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