Fr. M. Titus Mohan –
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and moves toward the silence of the tomb, before opening into the joy of Easter. These are days marked by betrayal, suffering, mockery, injustice, the carrying of the Cross, and the death of Jesus Christ. It may seem unusual to call such a week “holy.” The answer lies in what “holy” truly means. Holiness is not about comfort or ease. It means something set apart, something sacred. Holy Week is holy because it reveals the depth of God’s love in the midst of suffering. It shows love lived out completely. St. Augustine explains it this way: “Through the devout annual commemoration, its memory is renewed and our joy increases”. The Passion is not meant to leave us in sadness. It leads us toward hope.
The Meaning of Holiness in Suffering
Every event of Holy Week carries meaning. The washing of the feet shows humility and service. The Last Supper reveals love that gives itself fully. The arrest, trial, and suffering show human weakness, but also divine patience. The Cross, once a sign of shame, becomes a sign of salvation. Jesus does not suffer by accident. He chooses this path freely. He accepts the Cross not out of force, but out of love. This is what makes the week holy.
The events also reveal how suffering can be transformed. Betrayal by Judas, denial by Peter, and rejection by the crowd show the fragile side of human nature. Yet these moments become part of a greater story. They are taken up into a plan that leads to redemption. The Cross stands at the centre of this week. It is not only about pain. It is about purpose. It shows that love can exist even in the darkest moments.
A Week That Questions Our Lives
Holy Week is not just about the past. It invites reflection on the present. Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” These days ask us to look honestly at our own lives. Even in the Gospel, Jesus asks questions. He asks the disciples on the road to Emmaus. He asks Mary Magdalene, “Whom do you seek?” These are not questions for information. They are invitations to change. St. Francis de Sales explains that God asks questions for three reasons:
• To help us admit the truth about ourselves
• To enlighten and guide us in faith
• To stir up love and devotion
The Stations of the Cross make this reflection practical. Each moment becomes a mirror.
When Jesus is condemned, we ask: Do we stand for truth, or follow the crowd?
When He carries the Cross, we ask: Do we accept responsibility with patience?
When He falls, we reflect: Do we rise again after failure?
When He meets His Mother, we ask: Do we value the sacrifices of our parents?
When Simon helps Him, we ask: Do we step forward to help others?
When Veronica shows compassion, we ask: Do we act with courage?
St. Catherine of Siena reminds us: “Leave it all to Him, let go of yourself, lose yourself on the Cross, and you will find yourself entirely.” This is the call to trust.
From the Cross to Easter
Holy Week moves toward Good Friday, where everything seems to end. Yet it does not stop there. It continues into silence and waiting. Even at the tomb, a question remains: Do we believe that hope is still alive? This is why the week is holy. It is not only about suffering. It is about where that suffering leads. It leads to Easter. It leads to new life. In a world marked by uncertainty and division, this journey still speaks. It helps us move from fear to faith, from anger to understanding, and from isolation to relationship.
Finally, Holy Week is not just something to remember. It is something to live.
To choose truth over fear.
To choose love over anger.
To choose service over selfishness.
To choose hope over despair.
Because in the end, Holy Week is a journey. It begins with questions, passes through suffering, and leads to Easter – a new beginning.
————–
Fr. M. Titus Mohan, a priest of the Diocese of Kuzhithurai in South India, has authored more than 50 books and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Moral Theology in Milan.