Holy Week Presence, Touch, and Prayers

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

2024 Blog #14

April 1, 2024

Holy Week Presence, Touch, and Prayers

Holy Week is always busy for those of us in ministry. There are more services to conduct and many more preparations to make. The final stretch of the week goes from Thursday through Sunday. For those who have Vigil services on the day before the day of Jesus’ Resurrection, there are services four days in a row. Holding services on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday can make one tired.

This year my Holy Week was just a bit busier. Two congregants are ill and need frequent visits. One was taken to the local hospital after experiencing severe back pains. He has a weak aorta, and the doctors are looking at surgical options. He looked a bit fearful when he told me that he was a “time bomb.”

I can’t blame him for his fear. He is about my age. The doctors are recommending that the surgery to fix his problem be delayed a few weeks to make the surgical prognosis more likely. Until then, the man waits, and worries. I try to visit and pray with this man as close to daily as I can.

Another man that I am visiting almost daily is suffering a long and slow decline. Several weeks ago, nurses told the man’s wife that his time was short. For me, the decline appears to be slower than the fears that his wife is having. Yet, it comforts both that I visit almost daily. He sleeps through most of my visits and is rarely articulate when he is awake.

His weakness precludes any real conversation but when he is awake, his eyes indicate that he recognized me. He always extends his hand toward me and smiles when I take it. At times he tries to speak and usually it is inarticulate babble. At other times he does not attempt to speak but simply looks at me, smiles, and clutches my hand.

Holding his hand, I talk to him about Jesus, life, death, and meeting Jesus, face to face when his time to leave this earth comes. His smile is constant, at times tears begin to form in his eyes and, at times, he squeezes my hand.

I wish that I had been given the gift of healing so that I could cure these two gentlemen. I can only be a presence of comfort to them. I can only offer my touch, my prayers, my comfort, and my prayers. I hope that this is sufficient.

Yes, we just finished Holy Week and for me it was busier than most Holy Weeks, but I can’t think of anything that I would rather do than hold hands, while bringing presence, comfort, and prayers. Too often, Christ’s faithful leave such work to ministers. I suggest that all Christians do this Holy work. How much more kingdom work could we do if we all made each week, Holy, with our presence, our touch, our comfort, and our prayers.