Holy Week is the most important week in the Church’s Liturgical year.

Scripture for each day

Palm Sunday

The Week’s Liturgy begins with a reading from the Gospel.

(A) Matthew 21:1-11, or (B) Mark 11:1-10, or (C) Luke 19:28-40.

Vegan Christian Comment:

Animals begin the Easter story. Jesus insists that He needs them. They carry Him into Jerusalem in a triumphal procession to claim His crown; it is with them that He suffers and reigns. A mere donkey, a mere colt; the animals He chooses are a sign of His humility. There is a flip side to this condescending imagery though; Jesus does not betray His divine nature through choosing them, instead He raises the dignity of these animals from tethered drudgery, to regal magnificence. For no other reason could this have been prophesied in Scripture. They do not bolt or throw Him, they willingly carry Him. These beasts of burden are representative though, for to recognise Christ is to recognise all of His creatures, who have the gift of recognising Him too.
As sure as we can be that God is Love, we can be sure that He reciprocates in accompanying the many millions of equines on their distressing journeys to slaughterhouses each year both abroad, and here in the UK. And indeed, all of the other animals whom some humans buy up for the table and the wardrobe. (Note that He put blankets over their backs, not expecting them to give up their coats to dress Him.)

The entire Passion is read in Church on this day.

First Reading

Isaiah 50:4-7

Second Reading

Phillippians 2:6-11

Holy Gospel:

(A) Matthew 26:14 to 27:66. (B) Mark 14:1 to 15:47 (C) Luke 22:14 to 23:56.

Holy Week Monday

First Reading:

Isaiah 42:1-7

Gospel:

John 12:1-11

Holy Week Tuesday

First Reading:

Isaiah 49:1-6

Gospel:

John 13:21-33 and 36-38

Holy Week Wednesday

First Reading:

Isaiah 50:4-9

Gospel:

Matthew 26:14-25

Vegan Christian Comment:

The setting for each of these anecdotes from the Gospel is the dining table. Those to whom Jesus directs His teaching are those whom He asks to prepare and serve the meal. The subject for discussion is ‘betrayal’. First stage of preparation (Monday) is to wash, be clean, and fragrant. Almsgiving is not an alternative to preparing well. Second stage of preparation (Tuesday) is to be faithful to the Spirit of Truth. It is better to reveal unpleasant truths about that which we eat than to pretend all is well through ignorance. Third stage of preparation (Wednesday) is to give thanks for the rewards of our labours. Our reward is the nourishment we receive, not the tip we are given for wasting what is intended for our good.

Holy Thursday

First Reading:

Isaiah 61:1-3, 6, 8-9

Second Reading:

Apocalypse 1:5-8

Gospel:

Luke 4:16-21

Vegan Christian Comment:

Isaiah (with his vision of a peaceful kingdom where only love is known by the great diversity of creatures on our planet) features strongly this week. Assurance is given on this day. Jesus is identified as the fulfilment of Scripture. Where He is listened to, there is good news to give to those who yearn for the fulfilment of the promises of peace on earth. However, as we know, not all those who listen to His words are prepared to accept their meaning. The Word of God is intended for everybody though, not just those poor creatures who will benefit the most through the realisation of their imperative.

First Day of the Triduum: The Lord’s Supper

First Reading:

Exodus 12:1-8, 11, 14

Second Reading:

St Paul to the Corinthians 11:23-26

Gospel:

John 13:1-15

Vegan Christian Comment:

Repeating the theme of Monday, Jesus charitably assumes the role of servant. He prepares his students for the dinner table by symbolically washing their feet. He demonstrates that (in Truth) those who serve are in a position of superiority and those who are served are dependent. This lesson challenges many ordinary assumptions even today. For example, if we acknowledge that other species can serve humanity (they are superior to us in some way), why do we use our superiority over those same species to destroy instead of serve them? He is teaching more than how to prepare for the dinner table; He animates the roles we must adopt at table.

Second Day of the Triduum: Good Friday

First Reading

Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12

Second Reading

Hebrews 4:14 to 16:5, 7-9

Gospel

John 18:1 to 19:42

Vegan Christian Comment:

Repeating the theme of Tuesday, the appalling truths that Jesus tried to share at His last supper are revealed. Those who claimed to be His friends are not awake to the danger He is in. They share in the violence as He is sold to the enemy, and He is prepared as a lamb is prepared for the dinner table.

Third Day of the Triduum: Holy Saturday

First Reading

Genesis 1:1 to 2:2

Second Reading

Genesis 22:1-18

Third Reading

Exodus 14:15 to 15:1

Fourth Reading

Isaiah 54:5-14

Fifth Reading

Isaiah 55:1-11

Sixth Reading

Baruch 3:9-15, 32 to 4:4

Seventh Reading

Ezekiel 36:16-28

Epistle

St Paul to the Romans: 6:3-11

Gospel

(A) Matthew 28:1-10, (B) Mark 16:1-8, (C) Luke 24:1-12

Vegan Christian Comment:

Repeating the theme of Wednesday, a long history is narrated from the start to the completion of Scripture: from the Garden of Eden, to the Garden of Gethsemane. Adam is planted alive amongst the animals in the former but falls to death. Jesus is planted dead amongst the animals in the latter but springs to life. Jesus comes into the rewards of His labours. He is discovered by the women (mere table maids) to have earned His resurrection to life again. The men were unable to share in the women’s reward of joy - because they had not yet laboured at the work Jesus had been instructing them to do (still sleeping in death with Adam). The extent to which we too can recognise His resurrection depends upon whether we have been heeding His words and example by putting them into practice.
To be consistent (as Christ is consistent) we can end our reflections on Holy Week as they began. The colt and the donkey freely carried Jesus into Jerusalem, and He must have returned them home freely with a just reward. All those with imaginations which have strained in His loving service will be able to read much between the lines; including birds singing, and lambs leaping amongst the swaying foliage as the Lord and His loyal subjects journeyed on their way out of Jerusalem again.
Were humans not placed on earth so that there may be numerous nations of animals in heaven, over whom the Son of God may reign?