Holy Week in Antigua

In our recent prayer letter, we shared about Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala.  It was our first Semana Santa to spend here. Although processionals occurred throughout the month, we only attended two of the 26 processionals scheduled for the week - one Thursday night and one Friday morning.  Thtoughout the month, but particularly the week itself, thousands flocked to Antigua to see, craft, or participate in the rituals, many hoping to gain the favor of God with a good work that will earn them a better chance at salvation.  Often throughout the month, as we drove through town, there were detours, roads closed, as people created the beautiful carpets (alfombras) of colored sawdust, fruits, vegetables, pine needles, and flowers. 

The carpets, some having taken many hours, and depending on the hour of the processional even throughout the night, are beautiful creations.



As the processional begins, men dressed as Roman soldiers pass, taking care to step alongside, and not on, the carpets.

Next the bearers of incense pass swinging their pots thickening the air with incense.  Special care is taken to diligently pass the incense over each of the intricate carpets.  Others walk alongside with extra charcoal and incense beads to keep the fires burning and the smoke billowing.







Men are attired in purple or purple and white, symbolizing mourning, penance and the blood of Christ, walk along the streets.  The men of the brotherhood, la cofradía, are responsible for the care of the saints used in the processionals, procurring the candle and incense supply, as well as other tasks.  It seems that they walk in expression of their rank - most important in front with the least important in the back.  They also carry the floats on their shoulders, often swapping positions with other cofrades along the route.  It also seemed, although I am not certain, that the honor may be handed to a male family member as I saw many boys, youths, and young men scattered along the route, carrying incense and supplies, and carrying some of the small andas (floats).

These full size floats took many men to carry the weight on their shoulders, the staffs provided stability and support for them as they swayed in the march.

Following this float depicting the crucifixion, many of the sidewalk crowd followed, joining in the processional.  As I viewed this, I thought of the many who probably joined the processional accompanying Jesus to Calvary, maybe not even knowing why they gathered.   



The result of the crowd walking on the carpets...many of the crowd bend to gather some of the flowers, sawdust, or other remants of the alfombra to carry with them.

But then came the anda of Mary, carried on the shoulders of women, young and mature.

As the processional came to a close, street cleaners followed cleaning the streets of the remants of alfombras and other remains of the crowd.

And then...the carnival like hawkers.  Lots of balloons, trinkets, snacks, and drinks enticed the remaining throng.













I have had a difficult time even writing this blog as I recall the repetition of tradition, the emptiness of religion, the lostness without hope.  I keep seeing faces of sadness



I guess it is much like it was in the days of Christ...until the RESURRECTION.  So much emphasis placed on the crucifixion...Hallelujah for the Cross!  Without the shedding of the blood of the Sinless One poured out on the cross to satisfy the guilt of sin, there would be no forgiveness. However, RESURRECTION was God's stamp of approval that the sacrifice of Christ, the shedding of His blood was and is sufficient for the covering of sin, providing SALVATION for all who will bow in confession and surrender to the Lamb that was slain. 

HALLELUJAH!!  He is RISEN!  He is RISEN indeed!

He is Risen!! He is Risen Indeed!!

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh

Fulness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones he came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied -

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave he rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine -

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath.

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

He is Risen...He is Risen Indeed!

As many around us are celebrating the death of Jesus, they still walk in darkness trying to pay penance for their sins. They have not understood the FINISHED work Jesus paid in his death on the cross. They have not understood the COMPLETED work as God the Father raised Jesus from the grave signifying the sufficiency of the sacrifice for payment of the penalty of sin. They have not understood FORGIVENESS of all their sins, past, present and future, by faith alone. They walk without hope.

Some have never heard. Some have never believed. Some have never received.

On this glorious RESURRECTION day, pray that the message will be clear, pray that hearts will be receptive, pray that they will receive.

On this glorious RESURRECTION day, celebrate the sure Certainty of salvation through the completed work of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

On this glorious RESURRECTION day, anticipate the soon coming King to receive His own.

He is Risen...just as He said...He is Risen...He is Risen Indeed!