Unitarian Universalists on Holy Week

Holy Week has begun with yesterday’s Palm Sunday, and will continue this week with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter (this coming Sunday).

Many Unitarian Universalist congregations celebrate Palm Sunday and Easter, and Unitarian Universalist bloggers are also sharing reflections on these holidays.

I personally have mixed feelings about celebrating Christian holidays as a Unitarian Universalist. I disagree with much of what Jesus taught as recounted in the Gospels. This is not a knee-jerk reaction; I have studied the New Testament carefully and read multiple interpretations from Christian scholars.

Yet, I often learn a great deal from how other Unitarian Universalists interpret Jesus’s life and teachings, discovering valuable and surprising lessons. From what has already been posted by UU bloggers, I can see that this Holy Week will be no exception.

Rev. Kit Ketcham, of Ms. Kitty’s Road Show and Saloon, has begun a series of posts on Holy Week. She describes herself as both Christian and humanist:

I am both a Christian (non-traditional) and a Humanist (though more of a small h variety) and I have a history with Easter that involves both of these religious philosophies. I don’t shun Easter as many Humanists do; that is, I don’t ridicule it or avoid the topic.

If all of Christendom is celebrating this moment in time, I am interested in exploring its meaning for me, a non-traditional humanistic Christian.

In her next post, she writes that her “theology was founded upon the non-supernatural events of Jesus’ life and for whom his teachings and life were the miracle, not a virgin birth, not a bodily resurrection, not any of the many miracles proclaimed in the scriptures.”

I am lifting up Ms. Kitty’s approach because it resonates with what I’ve seen from some other Unitarian Universalist congregations and ministers. She gives an eloquent formulation of the de facto approach that it seems like many UU’s take to observing Holy Week. I very much enjoyed her fresh perspective on Palm Sunday — in which she offered a meditation on leadership — I’m looking forward to her thoughts over the rest of the week.

Rev. Victoria Weinstein of “Peacebang” also reflects on Palm Sunday. She writes:

You know, Palm Sunday is notable for many reasons, but not least of all because it’s the one time we see Jesus riding on an animal rather than walking. He walked everywhere. As I said earlier, this man who changed the entire course of history never traveled very far from his own hometown. Think about that. A person can be an agent of peace, liberty and justice by walking around where they are; by letting their hearts be aflame with passion for the contribution they might make from right from where they are.

What a challenging and inspiring message. Again I found myself thinking “You learned that from the Gospels? Wow, I never saw that there!”