The celebration of Holy Week gives us vivid imagination of the images of Christ.

On Palm Sunday, we see a courageous Christ entering Jerusalem and cleansing the temple of corruption and unjust practices that have infected its structures through the years.

On Maundy Thursday, we see a humble Christ stooping to wash the apostles’ feet and instituting the Last Supper with bread and wine as sacraments of his body and blood.

On Good Friday, we see a crucified Christ suffering on behalf of humanity, taking our sorrows and pains and atoning for our iniquities and chastisements so that by his stripes we will become whole again.

And on Easter Sunday, we see the risen Christ triumphing against the powers of evil and death and opening the floodgates of hope in the world and the promise of eternal life beyond.

I challenge you, on this coming Holy Week, to see Christ all around you. Go to church and reflect, attend every available opportunity to worship, participate in the Eucharist and listen to the Word of God. Open your heart to the Lord and begin to see the mysteries in store for you. Amidst the gloom and doom, amidst the unpredictability and uncertainty of life---the dreams that faded, the hopes that drooped---the Lord of the impossible awakens faith.

Unlike Christmas, Easter does not have many distractions of Santa Claus and bargain sales but only the attraction of the One who suffered, died and rose again.

“Because He lives, we can face tomorrow!”

The Rev. Dr. Winfred B. Vergara
Program Officer, Asian American Ministries
The Episcopal Church Center