Monday of Holy Week

The Raising of Lazarus

Lazarus's empty tomb

 For Monday of Holy Week we read the Gospel narratives of Holy Week--comparing and contrasting.  What an experience to be doing so with so knowledgeable group of lay and clergy as those who have come to be part of Holy Week here this year.  In the afternoon we traveled to Bethany, the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus, to reprise the stories of Jesus's the two times Jesus was anointed there in the week or so before his crucifixion, and of course to visit Lazarus's tomb and the church which commemorates the way Jesus raised him from death.  As we gathered on the SGC rooftop to reflect on the day, we could see the full moon rise--marking the beginning of Passover.  One of our pilgrims brought this nugget:  Eastern and Western Holy Weeks coincide every three years, Passover occurs during Western Holy Week once every 17 years.  It must be awhile before all three will happen like this again.