With Ramadan in full swing, it’s also a significant week for many Christians across campus. Holy Week, or the week leading up to Easter Sunday, begins with Palm Sunday and focuses on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ with approximately 81% of Americans celebrating Easter.
Freshman Jacinda Ward has found that Holy Week allows her to focus on her faith and blessings more than usual.
“On Friday, which is Good Friday, my family and I are going to church, and the same on Sunday,” Ward said. “It’s a time my family and I can get together and celebrate our faith and everything Jesus went through for us and be thankful for that.”
Each day of the week focuses on a different part from Jesus’s last week of life – beginning with him being welcomed into Jerusalem and ending with his resurrection after being crucified.
According to senior Carsten Swallow, Holy Week and Easter help him come closer to his family and to God.
“Easter provides me with an opportunity to refocus on Christ, no matter how much I’ve become distracted by worldly troubles,” Swallow said. “It allows me to feel renewed, at peace, and dedicate more time to studying his gospel. It allows me to prepare for Easter by centering my thoughts around Christ.”
Swallow prepares for Easter through daily scripture study, as well as being more conscious about how he acts.
“My family is celebrating the Holy Week by reading specific scripture passages each day that come directly from Christ’s last week of mortal ministry and studying them deeply,” Swallow said. “Easter commemorates Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for us – imperfect individuals; A sacrifice that can never be repaid, but can be honored by living a Christ-centered life.”
Holy Week also helps many worshippers get into a gratitude and humility-centered mindset before Easter.
“It helps me realize that everything I’ve been given is from God,” Ward said. “I can’t take that for granted.”
