What's So Holy About Holy Week?

As a pastor I dread Holy Week. I dread the many services, even services that traditionally hold so much meaning for me. Mostly, I just dread the excessive work. I probably shouldn't complain given the fact that I preach that so much of the Christian faith centers around the cross, an element of execution. I probably shouldn't complain about extra services when I believe God's love would do anything for me, including pulling all-nighters so that I could finally see clearly enough to receive whatever it is I need. But I do complain because I wonder what is so holy about holy week. I wonder why people flock to the church this week when they don't any other week. I wonder why we go out and buy new clothes for this Sunday when we rush just to get our hair brushed other Sundays. I wonder why I stress out so much this week when it is just another week. After all, next year the week of March 17 will be just another week -- nothing holy whatsoever. But then I remember that one of the main things Jesus' life teaches is that the ordinary is holy. We don't need special rules or laws to follow in order to make anything holy. We need only to recognize God's presence with us, understanding us, to change the ordinary into the sacred. And so when I ask, "What's so holy about holy week?" I guess I should also acknowledge that everything is holy during holy week. And the same everything is holy the rest of the year too because God is with us, God understands us, God loves us, God forgives us, God receives us. There is nothing ordinary about life when one follows the way of Christ.