The liturgies of Holy Week need to be seen as a unity. With two weeks remaining before the start of this summit of the Christian year, the “Preach” team sought the expertise of two esteemed liturgical scholars and practitioners to give preachers a whistle-stop tour of the readings and liturgies for this sacred week.
“Holy Thursday is like the overture to a musical or an opera; all of the themes are stated,” says John Baldovin, S.J., a professor of historical and liturgical theology at the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry and the president of the International Jungmann Society for Jesuits and the Liturgy. The entire paschal mystery is summed up in two rituals enacted in the liturgy of this day. The washing of the feet and the celebration of the Eucharist, John says, are “prophetic symbols of our Lord giving himself to us in the Eucharist and the example of the Lord’s service to us.” But there is a more practical unity that preachers might seriously consider observing during Holy Week.
“What is really unique is to hear the way these stories, this narrative, this unity has been celebrated in song,” says Kim Harris, assistant professor of African American Thought and Practice in the theological studies department at Loyola Marymount University. “A preacher can connect to those songs and the way that they express this incredible story that we are remembering and celebrating, and being inspired by and challenged by through Holy Week.”
Kim, who is also a cantor, composer, recording artist and liturgical consultant for the Office of Black Ministry in the Archdiocese of New York, invites preachers to incorporate references to the music for these days into their preaching. “People have been preparing for weeks and weeks and weeks, so to have them feel that the preacher hears them and appreciates what they’re doing is really wonderful.”
In conversation with “Preach” host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., Kim Harris and John Baldovin, S.J., discuss the connection of present-day social issues like antisemitism and state-sanctioned violence to Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. They encourage preachers to weave these grim realities into their homilies for Holy Week.Amid the richness of words, actions, movement, and song in these liturgies, it’s essential to uphold the values of silence and brevity in preaching during Holy Week.
“The missal recommends that the preacher preach briefly,” John stresses. “It takes a lot more time to prepare a brief homily than it does to prepare a long homily.”
Scripture Readings for Holy Week, Year B
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Holy Thursday — Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Easter Vigil
