Here's to a hard but holy week.

Here are a few images I found that were cool representations of what we will experience this week as we approach the cross.
Not to forget the resurrection is on the horizon. 

This week we not only think about the Palm Sunday cries of “Hosanna” but also the Good Friday shouts of “Crucify him.” This is the week we approach, with Jesus, death. 

Not letting our minds and imaginations slip to quickly to resurrection, today the experiment is to take these passages and enter, prayerfully and imaginatively, into them. 

Here are the text to use… 

Matthew 21:1-11
Matthew 26:14 - 27:66

As described in your book, I want to encourage you to read these stories and place yourself in the scenes, take on the life of a character, see what they see, smell what they smell and feel what they feel. Try to be fully present in the story, don’t “turn the page” or think ahead. What would you be thinking and feeling as you yelled, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” What did the energy of crowd feel like? What were people saying to each other. What do you think the expression on Jesus’ face was? Was it a sunny day or overcast, was it warm or cold. What did you do afterwards? Ask the same questions as a person in the crowd who was yelling “Crucify him!” Why are you yelling those words? What are you thinking and feeling? Place yourself in the story. 

Here is a list of characters, you might think of or find others but do a few readings of the text and take on a different perspective each time. Let these readings be prayerful and imaginative. 

Ask the simple questions of what am I experiencing (sights, smells, sounds) as this person. 

Ask the who, what, when, where, why questions. 

As the character, process what you experienced and how you should respond to the situation. 

Here's the texts and some characters to engage with. 

Matthew 21:1-11

• One of the 12 disciples. 
• One of the two disciples Jesus sends to get the donkey.
• The “Anyone” who might see the disciples taking the donkey. (read Luke’s version to fill in the blanks a bit.) 
• Someone from the crowd waving palm branches and shouting hosanna. 
• One of the folks giving up their cloak and tossing it on the ground. 
• A person from the city asking, “who is this?” 
• A crowd members telling folks about Jesus the prophet. 

You get the gist. Read through Matthew 26:14 - 27:66 in the same way, identify the different characters, ask the same questions and prayerfully experience the story. 

Grace and peace

Here is a bit of a blog a pastor friend of mine wrote. (here is the full post) and (here is another post)

"Tonight is the Wednesday night of Holy Week. In the Anglican world, this often means it is time for Tenebrae (a Latin word meaning “shadows” or “darkness”).

Tenebrae is a traditional service that comes from the Benedictine monasteries of Europe. It is a time of experiencing the last week in Christ’s life through psalms, lessons, prayers, and gathering darkness. The centerpiece of the service is a gathering of fifteen candles which are snuffed out, one by one, as the service goes on. This increases the physical darkness, while also symbolizing Jesus’ life ebbing away. 

— A excerpt from the blog of Fr. Thomas McKenzie

Here are a few links that might be helpful and interesting... 

HOLY WEEK 

The Days of Holy Week | The Paschal Triduum

I’ve also posted prayers for Holy Week, Lenten music and other reflection over on my blog in the past, check that out! 

And come back tomorrow as well. I will have a couple Good Friday posts. Even though there is no icon in the book. 

And her are a couple interesting and entertaining videos to watch. 
(PS: If you like these guys they have more goods where that came from, check em' out!) 

Here is a great video that might stir some Holy Week inspiration as we move into the shadows, through the darkness of the cross and in the silence of Saturday. 

But remember, Sunday is coming. 

And incase you haven’t seen this interview with Bono, check it out. It’s really great, especially if you’re a U2 fan. Here is the part where he talks about Jesus, but the whole interview is awesome, I couldn't find the link but maybe you can!
Here is one more of our friend Bono... Interview and U2

* I shared a Good Friday meditaion for St. Mary of Bethany Parish in Nashville. I posted the meditaion as a blog on my website. You can also listen to it on that page. I would suggest you take a moment and listen to all seven reflections on the Seven Last Word’s of Jesus over at St. Mary’s website.

Below is an album of some icons and pictures I have found over the past couple years. If you search “Good Friday Icons” OR just “Good Friday” you will be able to find any or all of these and much more. There is also a couple good Friday videos below. I would encourage you spend some time today in silence and meditation, find some images that resonate with you and deepen your awareness of what our Lord Jesus has done for us on this day, this horrible but good Friday, this the day of the cross. 

The Stations of Cross is often engaged on Good Friday... here are a few links to sites that will guide you through the stations. 
Stations of the Cross Devotion on Patheos by the Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts. This is a really great resource with a great introduction. He also compares and contrasts the the Biblical Stations of the Cross and the Traditional Station. (PS: If you're a bit skeptical of Roman Catholic devotion, this resource is perfect! Mark is a professor at Fuller Seminary and was pastor in Southern California for may years.)
Catholic Online :: This is a really cool resource. It includes a video for each station and the classic text as well. This resource includes the 14 traditional Stations of the Cross (the traditional Roman Catholic stations). There is a helpful intro video on this page. 
Pray As You Go | AUDIO GUIDE :: I love the Pray As You Go app on my iPhone, and this audio guide they to the stations they have created is great. Go for a prayer walk and let them guide you through on the way to the cross. 

— Here are a couple Good Friday videos —

If you want some deeper reflection here is Bishop Robert Barron with a couple deep thoughts on the Cross of Christ. 
In these videos he is reflecting on the book The Crucifixion by Anglican priest Fleming Rutledge.