It’s a Holy Time of Year

Posted on Posted in Nathan

There are a handful of important religious holidays happening this time of year. You could say it’s a pretty holy time of year. 

Currently, we are halfway through Ramadan, which is a month-long holiday that includes fasting from dawn to dusk, prayer, and reflection. It celebrates that God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Muhammad, peace be upon Him, the final prophet of Islam. One of the most important pillars of Islam, Ramadan is practiced by millions of people around the globe. 

This week also marks Passover, which is one of the most widely observed holidays in Judaism. Celebrating the ancient story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt, Passover includes a Passover Seder which is a symbolic and ritual meal where the Haggadah is read. 

In some traditions of Buddhism, this weekend is the celebration of Buddha’s birth. For centuries, bathing a statue of the Buddha has been a ritual that symbolizes the cleansing of our own body, speech, and mind. It’s a ritual that seeks to eradicate anger, greed, and ignorance to purify one’s mind in pursuit of compassion and wisdom. 

And, this Friday is Good Friday, which is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus. It is observed on the Friday of Holy Week before Resurrection Sunday. It is often a service of reflection on Jesus’ final days of suffering. 

On campus this week, we have students celebrating ALL of these holy rituals. I am truly thankful to be a part of a campus community where such religious diversity is embraced and celebrated. Moreover, I am reminded this week of the beauty and richness that these celebrations add to the lives of those who practice them. 

This week, we have a handful of events you are invited to participate in:

  • Friday at 4:30 p.m. we are hosting a celebration for Buddha’s birth at the Spiritual Life Center. You can join us for tea, a short meditation, and an opportunity to honor Buddha. 
  • On Friday evening at 8 p.m. in Snidow Chapel, we invite you to join us for a Good Friday tenebrae service. This short service will include music, silence, and the reading of Jesus’ final words. 
  • Finally, on Sunday we offer two opportunities to celebrate Resurrection Sunday. At 11 a.m., in partnership with the Church of the Covenant, we will host an inclusive service, and at 4:30 p.m. we will host Easter Sunday Roman Catholic Mass. 

My hope for you this week is that no matter the religious or spiritual path you find yourself on, you will see glimpses of the sacredness and holiness of this time of year.