This week is the beginning of Holy Week for Christians around the world. It is also the start of Passover for those of the Jewish tradition. A Holy Week for 2 of the 3 major religions

It has made me think of the word “holy”. Merriam-Webster describes holy as “worthy of complete devotion and trust 2 : DIVINE 3 : set apart to the service of God or a god : SACRED 4 : respected as sacred 5 : COMPLETE, UTTER (holy cow). The Hebrew word for holy is “godesh”: apartness, sacredness, separate while the Greek for holy is similar: “hagios”- pure, morally blameless.

Concepts about which we do not really consider in this modern culture.

But I wonder if we should think about holiness especially this week. What is worthy of our complete devotion and trust? Have you thought about it in light of our current condition? Is science worthy? Possessions? Financial security? Political parties or theories?

What I like about the van Dyck painting is the various expressions on the faces in the crowd: skepticism, awe, disbelief, compliance because everyone else is there. For me, Holy week is a time for me to think of my devotion and to whom I put complete trust. I wonder if I were there over 2,000 years ago, would I have just gone along with everyone else, placed my palm down and raised a hallelujah because everyone else was doing it, or because I truly believed?

This week is called holy and it is a week to be set apart. It is a week of reflection, remembrance and renewal. Maybe you are like me and need a week like this. Time to consider my life, my role in this world and my future. Time to consider my devotion and trust.

What about you? What do you need to remember- about your faith and beliefs? On reflection do you need more information or understanding? What can you do to renew your beliefs? What can you do this week to make it holy?