Holy Week: a Journey from Darkness to Light

Many people are familiar with both the story of Exodus and the events of Holy Week. The story of Exodus focuses on God leading the Israelites back on the path to virtuous living. During the celebration of Passover, Jews and non-Jews alike may take part in a Seder meal, the awe-inspiring religious ritual that accentuates this truth as it commemorates the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt.

During Holy Week, Christians focus on the mysteries of Jesus’ death and resurrection — again, a journey from darkness to light. How does God lead us on this journey? Are we convinced that God will always be there to guide us? Are we convinced that we play a major role in our ever-evolving world that creates something new each and every day? Perhaps before we respond we need to revisit the theological truth that we do, indeed, co-create with God — that we are, indeed, part of the process of creation, and, assured by this ancient truth, that if we get lost along the way, a loving God will be right there at our side to pick us up, hold us tight and set us back on the path to love and resurrection. 

Rabbi Yaacov Cohen, a longtime educator, said, “This is true freedom: Our ability to shape reality. We have the power to initiate, create and change reality rather than only react and survive it. How can we all educate our children to true freedom? Teach them not to look at reality as defining their acts but to look at their acts as defining reality.”

Let us truly be part of the gift to co-create with this loving God who has given us the opportunity to “be-come” a virtuous person on the path to Resurrection and the light of Christ.