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-WAYS TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL HOLY WEEK WHETHER AT HOME OR AWAY FROM HOME -

Ways to have a meaningful holy week whether at home or away from home

Though for some, Holy Week may also be a time for vacation, beach trips, and out of town excursions. While these activities can be fun and certainly nothing wrong with taking a break from routine duties, we should still be mindful to find ways to commemorate the holy week even when away from home after all, when we really think about it, our faith is anchored on the events in Jesus’ life that we commemorate during this week especially the resurrection. As the Apostle Paul would put it, our faith is meaningless without Jesus’ resurrection.

You’ve probably heard of the Holy Week also being called Passion Week and it is so named because in that time, Jesus Christ truly revealed His passion for us in the suffering He willingly went through on our behalf.  Indeed, it’s a special time of the year. It’s a time for reflection and commemoration of the events that happened during the final week of Jesus’ life leading up to his death and resurrection. 

Though for some, Holy Week may also be a time for vacation, beach trips, and out of town excursions. While these activities can be fun and certainly nothing wrong with taking a break from routine duties, we should still be mindful to find ways to commemorate the holy week even when away from home. After all, when we really think about it, our faith is anchored on the events in Jesus’ life that we commemorate during this week especially the resurrection. As the Apostle Paul would put it, our faith is meaningless without Jesus’ resurrection (see 1 Corinthians 15:14 for the exact verse).

Hence, regardless if you belong to the stay-at-home or out-of-town club, there are so many ways to make your Holy Week meaningful and inspiring and with some careful planning, you can make the most of this season.

In this blog, we’ll be discussing several ideas for commemorating the Holy Week at home or on the go:

AT HOME

  • Create a sacred space to pray and reflect on the week’s events. While we know that what’s truly important is Jesus’ taking up space in our hearts and minds, there is something about having a dedicated corner for prayer and meditation that somehow levels up the solemnity of our time with God. So, feel free to spend time designing your personal corner at home and don’t forget to include your diffuser and those grounding and calming essential oils!
  • Delight in God’s word by reading the bible so you can gain deeper insights into the meaning of Holy Week and its significance in growing your faith.
  • Participate in interactive activities with family members that illustrate the journey of Jesus from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem to his death on the cross and resurrection. Classic charades always work. Make sure to have that meaningful discussion time after though, so everyone in the family grows in understanding what the journey of Jesus was all about.

  • If you happen to love music as a family, listen to music that reflects the themes of Holy Week and other Christian songs that evoke feelings of sorrow and joy throughout the week’s important events.

  • Have meaningful conversations with family members about their own spiritual journey and how Jesus’s life has impacted them personally – make sure to encourage everyone to share their thoughts and feelings openly so that everyone feels heard and accepted without judgement!

  • Cook traditional foods associated with Holy Week, such as lamb dishes eaten during Easter dinner, according to each family member’s preference while sharing stories about their culture and faith experiences over dinner.

  • Use visual aids such as photos or videos showing scenes from Jesus’s life and times as well as images inspired by faith-based art works like classical paintings of Biblical stories. One that is really making an impact now would the series called The Chosen for its unique and highly relatable portrayal of Jesus’ life taking into account the perspective of Jesus 1st disciples. Did I also mention that it’s free? So feel free to go and binge Jesus through The Chosen with the family during the Holy Week.

  • Spend time outdoors focusing on natural beauty around us that reminds us of God’s presence in our lives – go for walks together, take pictures, point out interesting foliage, bird watching, etc., all while spending quality time together connecting not just with nature while recognizing Him who created everything to begin with.

  • At night, stand outside under the stars and talk about how big God is compared to our tiny problems; allow yourself moments where you just stare up at them in awe, grateful for God’s majesty! As Romans 1:20 would put it, “for since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

WHEN YOU ARE ON THE GO

First off, it is important to remember that just as we can worship anywhere so can we commemorate the Holy Week from wherever we are.  So, feel free to make your vacation extra meaningful with some of the ideas on this list. 

  • Attend a special Holy Week service at the local church in your travel destination. If they’ve got a welcome center, drop right in as it would be a good idea to get to know the locals and get inspired by their personal encounters with Jesus’ too.

  • Take part in other activities from Good Friday to Easter Sunday that celebrates Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Walk with other travelers through the streets of town and listen to the stories shared by locals about their faith and of course, go ahead and touch someone’s life by sharing how you came to know Jesus’ in your life too.

  • Visit local holy sites to learn more about religious practices in the area then take time to go back to God’s Word to discern which ones are biblical and which ones were simply added in and for what purpose. This way, we are able to identify which among the practices and traditions are truly essential to our end in mind which is to grow in Christlikeness.

  • Spend some time alone reflecting on Jesus’ life and death and its importance for you personally. Despite hearing the gospel numerous times, you might be surprised at how much deeper we can still go if we spend time meditating and reflecting on the gospel not just during the Holy Week but every single day we are blessed with.

  • Spend time outdoors exploring nature trails or taking a hike up a mountain nearby so that you can take in views of the landscape from above–a great way to gain perspective on how small we are compared to God’s greatness–and ponder his goodness toward us!

  • Gather with other travelers or members of your vacation group for prayer each day before meals or bedtime, using Scripture verses related to Holy Week as part of your reflections together.

  • Cook special dishes that your destination is known for–it’s not just about taste but also symbolism! For instance, some countries have dishes like red eggs for Easter symbolizing Christ’s blood shed on the cross for our sins; grilled lamb representing Jesus’ sacrifice; etc. Not only will it add flavor but will also allow you to learn about cultural heritage connected with this important week in Christianity.

  • Take part in an Easter Vigil on Saturday evening wherein candles are lit at sunset symbolizing hope being restored after Jesus’ resurrection on Sunday morning! This is usually followed by an Easter feast celebrating new life filled with joyous laughter!

There you have it! Use these suggestions whether you’re at home celebrating with family members or traveling abroad experiencing new cultures & religions first-hand. No matter what activities you choose always remember that this week is about growing in our faith and love for Jesus’ whose passion is revealed as He willingly went to the cross in order to pay for the sins of His people (yours and mine). 

Which should lead us to take a look at our own hearts and ask what should our attitude be during this season and beyond it. Shouldn’t we be just as passionate in our worship of Jesus in whatever we do and wherever we are and in sharing His love to others? As He suffered for us, so should we be willing to proclaim the message of His death and resurrection to others even if it’s not always easy.

 

Enjoy every moment and have blessed Holy Week!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi, I’m Des and I’m an entrepreneur, certified aromatherapist and Christian cognitive behavioral therapy practitioner. After leaving behind a 10-year career in the corporate world, I took my certification in aromatherapy and started Aurae Natura. My hope goes beyond providing you reliable and credible information about aromatherapy and therapeutic-quality essential oils but to serve you meaningful content that will also nourish you mentally, emotionally and  spiritually.


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