Rather than looking in detail at the scriptures this week, I wanted instead to invite you to take a moment to think about engaging with Holy Week.  It's very easy to approach Easter a bit like Christmas - as a day of celebration, joy, family, and presents made of chocolate - but in many ways the real treasure of this great festival lies in the days beforehand.

As was observed at our Lent Group a week or so ago (with apologies for paraphrasing) 'There's nothing really amazing about the resurrection - that's a very 'God' thing to do.'  This week is about reflecting not on God doing stuff you would expect a god to do, but quite the opposite.  This week is about God, in the person of Jesus, submitting to human authority, allowing himself to be arrested, put on trial, and sentenced to death.  And then, even more extraordinarily, going through with the sentence - actually dying, being abandoned, and descending into Hell.  

Those are not very 'God' things to do.

This week is about sitting with those moments, and asking 'What do they mean for me?'

For some that will be an intellectual answer, for some it will be emotional. I know people who are reduced to tears at the thought, and others who treasure it mentally as a curiosity of Christian theology.  It may be an experience of forgiveness, reconciliation, moral example, substitution, or companionship - or any one of the infinite realities found at the crux of our being, where we find the love of God laid bare.

I don't think the particular nature of the response is the thing to worry about, that's for God to lead you to as you- what matters is honouring the God who died for you (whatever that turns out to mean), so that space is opened for that leading to take place.  By taking the time to appreciate what he did, we open ourselves to the possibility that the appreciation may turn out to be transformative.

Wherever, however, it is appropriate and possible to take that time, to walk with the disciples to the foot of the cross, and watch our God die, I would encourage you to make the effort, and see what impact it has on the celebration of Easter day when it arrives.