EASTER: THE HOLY WEEK 2025

“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”

— Matthew 28:6

Why is Easter considered the cornerstone of the Christian faith?

Because it is a testament to God's love, redemption, and the promise of eternity with Him. The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. It ultimately defeated the forces of darkness and offered believers the hope of a new life in Christ.

The fulfillment of the Passover lamb (The significance)

The word Passover refers to the fact that the Angel of the Lord passed over the homes of the people who had put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts.

Moses was leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. And the very last plague was that the Lord God was going to kill the firstborn of the Egyptians, but those who had put the blood of the lamb on their door would be saved.

So, all the Israelites also in order to be saved, had to put the blood of the lamb on the doorpost of their homes, and the death angel actually passed over their houses.

That’s why we now refer to this feast as Passover: because it talks about the way that the death angel passed over their homes.

So, when the Lord used Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, they stopped at Mount Sinai, and the Lord gave the command for the children of Israel to remember that the death angel had passed over.

What is the significance of symbols like the eggs and rabbits in Christian traditions?

In early Christianity, the Christian church moved the celebration of Easter to coincide with an existing pagan festival on the first full moon after the spring equinox, which is why Easter moves every year. In old pagan customs, eggs were a symbol of new life, and rabbits a symbol of fertility.

Eggs, for example, were often used as symbols of fertility and rebirth in various ancient cultures.

These “Easter eggs” became ways for Christians to talk about the “resurrection” (when Jesus Christ came back to life) they celebrated.

Due to its prolific breeding tendencies, the rabbit became a symbol for Eostra.

In AD 595, Pope Gregory sent Roman monks to convert the Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxons, like German forefathers, celebrated Eostra. When converted, they accepted the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection at Easter while continuing the celebration of spring renewal and the rabbit's symbolism.

The Resurrection: The Heart of Easter

What is the theological importance of the empty tomb?

The empty tomb is the physical manifestation of God’s faithfulness.

According to the apostle Paul, Christians should be pitied above everyone else because if Christ had not risen from the dead, our sins would not have been forgiven and our faith would have been in vain.

“17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

— 1 Corinthians 15:17, 19

Without the resurrection, the Christian message and way of life would collapse. In other words, without the resurrection, Christianity would not exist.

The Holy Week

Holy Week is a week of reflection and devotion in the Christian church that commemorates the final days of Jesus Christ's life. It takes place between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday and is Lent's sixth and final week.

· Day 1. Palm Sunday. The faithful receive palm fronds and await Jesus' arrival as he approaches Jerusalem.

· Day 2: Monday. Jesus Clears the Temple.

· Day 3: Tuesday. Jesus Goes to The Mount of Olives.

· Day 4: Holy Wednesday. Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. It is sometimes called "Spy Wednesday."

· Day 5: Passover and Maundy Thursday. Jesus celebrates the Last Supper with his apostles. (The Last Supper observance)

· Day 6. Good Friday. Commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary (Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified.)

· Day 7. Holy Saturday. Jesus is buried in the tomb. It is a day of waiting, prayer and fasting

· Day 8. Easter Sunday. Jesus Christ's resurrection. The victory of good over evil, sin, and death is the result of God's love defeating darkness and the force of death.

How can I deepen my faith during Holy Week and Easter?

To deepen your faith during Holy Week and Easter, you can engage in certain activities that would help you strengthen your relationship with God and grow in your faith.

Attend Holy Week services: Participate in Maundy Thursday Mass, Good Friday services (including the Stations of the Cross), and the Easter Vigil. Engage fully in the ceremonies and let them strengthen your faith.

Bible study: Read the gospel accounts of Jesus last week in detail, focusing on the emotions and meaning behind the events. Allow yourself to feel the weight of his sacrifice.
Personal prayer: Spend dedicated time in quiet reflection, praying for yourself and others, and meditating on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice.
Journaling: Write down your thoughts and feelings about the Passion narrative as you study it.
Practice almsgiving (charity). We are called to generosity during Lent. Perform service for others, such as giving to those in need during this time. Consider making a charitable donation, helping at a nearby shelter, or reaching out to someone who needs support. Giving alms reminds us of the need to love our neighbors, highlights our interconnectedness, and reflects Jesus' teachings of compassion and love.
Fasting or sacrifice: Consider a temporary period of giving up something meaningful to you as a way to focus on spiritual growth. Redirect your cravings toward God and remember that fasting isn’t about deprivation; it’s about drawing closer to our Lord.
Pilgrimage: If possible, visit a holy site or shrine related to the Passion story.
Community engagement: Participate in church activities or outreach programs with your faith community.

Easter Story In The Bible

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Matthew 21:7-9 — They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted…”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus. Matthew 26:14-16 — Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”
The Last Supper. Matthew 26:18 — He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”
The Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:36 — Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
Jesus Prays in the Garden. Matthew 26:39 — “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus Delivered to Pilate. Matthew 27:1-2 — Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
The Trial of Jesus Before Pilate. John 19:6 — As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
Jesus’ Final Steps. Matthew 27:30-31 — They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Darkness Comes. Mark 15:33 — At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
The Death of Jesus. Luke 23:46 — Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Jesus’ Body. Matthew 27:57-59 — As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth…
Jesus is Buried. John 19:40-41 — Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.
The Resurrection. Luke 24:1-6 — On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!
Jesus Appears. Matthew 28:8-10 — So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”