Holy Week 2026

Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday AD 33, hailed as a king by the crowds, an occasion which this year coincides with: The 2026 Iran War entering its fourth week; the United States spending $30 billion to date; U.S. President Donald Trump pushing $23 billion in weapons sales to the Middle East; requesting an additional $200 billion in funding; and summoning the international community to help open the Strait of Hormuz. When they declined, he determined to “obliterate the country’s power plants” before offering a 5-day reprieve on account of striking up “very good and productive conversations with Iran.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry denies any negotiations have taken place with the U.S.

Onward to Holy Monday, and Jesus clearing the temple of money changers. Converting devotion into transaction, the Federal Reserve was established in 1913 for precisely this reason. An institution deliberately placed outside political pressure, “The Fed” was designed to insulate monetary policy from short-term political pressures, ensuring decisions on interest rates and money supply are based on economic data rather than election-year politics. This independence allows for long-term economic stability, such as managing inflation and stable prices without requiring approval from the President or Congress.

However, when the US President publicly demanded that Fed Chair Jerome Powell lower interest rates, calling him — crooked, incompetent, a jerk and moron — and accusing him of "destroying the country with high interest rates and an enemy of the US economy, he instigated a DOJ investigation into Powell; sternly invited him to resign; and nominated Kevin Warsh to replace him, failing on all accounts.

The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at 3.5%-3.75%, citing solid economic growth alongside "somewhat elevated" inflation. Powell explains, “while inflation remains sticky, the Fed remains well-positioned to evaluate incoming data, with only one rate cut now projected for 2026.”

Chief Judge James Boasberg quashed DOJ’s subpoenas stating, “there is essentially zero evidence of a crime and that the action was a clear effort to pressure Powell to cut rates or resign.” Sidebar: Powell is to receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award for "protecting the independence of the Federal Reserve ... despite years of personal attacks and threats from the highest levels of government. Powell safeguarded one of the country's most essential apolitical institutions," the foundation said.

Holy Tuesday follows the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes each sending their sharpest minds to entrap Christ with questions. Defending the resurrection, Christ reframes each query into a teaching moment which unfolds on the Mount of Olives with an apocalyptic prophecy which includes, the destruction of the temple; nation rising against nation; and false prophets.

Compare and contrast Jerusalem, AD 33 / Jerusalem, 2026: The Gaza War remains active; the Ministry of Health reports 72,247 fatalities; Israel has been formally charged with genocide at the International Court of Justice; and Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" assembles to promote "Peace through Strength."

As to the betrayal of Jesus on Spy Wednesday, Judas Iscariot doesn’t conspire with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus over ideology. He betrays him for thirty pieces of silver. Remorseful, Iscariot tries to give the silver back, ultimately throws the coins into the temple sanctuary, and hangs himself.

Coinciding with Kristi Noem testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee that President Trump had been informed and approved her $220 million 60-second Department of Homeland Security infomercial designed as a multi-lingual international campaign to deter illegal immigration and encourage self-deportation.

Trump replies, "I never knew anything about it," and Noem is terminated 24 hours later. In Iscariot style, ICE Barbie is banished to purgatory as "Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” whilst salvaging her marriage to God-fearing Byron Noem who holds principle above otherwise sordid personalities.

To wit, the U.S. Supreme Court delivers its most consequential rebuke of executive power in a generation. “Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump” holds that the “International Emergency Economic Powers Act” doesn’t authorize a US president to impose tariffs. It seems the Constitution assigns that power to Congress. The US government had unlawfully collected and cashed $166 billion from 330,000+ businesses under tariffs the Court found unconstitutional. Trump called the justices "fools and lapdogs," and immediately imposes a universal 15% tariff on every country on earth. Thousands of lawsuits seeking refunds are filed.

Which brings us to Maundy Thursday, the Eucharist, Last Supper, and the King of Kings on his knees washing the feet of those who’ll abandon him by morning. The highest form of power. The most radical political act.
Following the U.S. extradition of Nicolás Maduro to face drug trafficking charges, Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announces the release of Venezuelan political prisoners; allowing, enabling, encouraging exiles to return to their homeland; and opens a new political stage after years of confrontation, detentions, and judicial persecution.

Disputed as amnesty dressed in reconciliation, critics, scholars, scribes et al. are asking if or whether institutionalized pardons invalidate the peace process? Rodriguez explains, "One must know how to ask for forgiveness, and must also know how to receive forgiveness."

The Passion of Jesus or final bearing, suffering, and crucifixion of Christ on Good Friday isn’t lost on working-class men, women and children skipping meals, skipping medications, falling behind on bills, and carrying debt to bridge the gap between falling wages and rising expenses. Ground beef is 17.2 percent more expensive than a year ago, coffee has surged 18.3 percent, and 8 in 10 say it is harder today to buy a home than it was for earlier generations. Nearly 4 in 5 believe the economy will not improve in the year ahead. We’re referring to America, dear readers, not Iran.

Christ's own death and harrowing descent into hell on Holy Saturday coincides with the publication of three independent assessments of global democracy in 2026.

The Growing Shadow of Autocracy found that global freedom declined for the 20th consecutive year. Of 88 countries rated Free, the United States experienced the sharpest decline, its lowest score since measurements began in 2002. V-Dem — drawing on data from more than 4,000 scholars across 179 countries — downgraded America's democracy ranking from 20th to 51st, and Bright Line Watch concluded the United States now falls nearly midway between liberal democracy and dictatorship. Global freedom has been declining for 20 consecutive years. Only 21 percent of the world's people now live in countries rated Free, down from 46% two decades ago. The White House called the findings "a ridiculous claim made by an irrelevant, blatantly biased organizations."

As Panama, Greenland, and Canada resist United States colonization, Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death is scheduled to be observed Easter Sunday. Which brings us full circle back to Iran; the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ Elementary School in Minab, Iran; 175 school children, mostly girls ages 7-12, a U.S. Tomahawk missile however misguided and Jesus. Making his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, he foresaw the city’s impending destruction by Rome in 70 AD and wept. “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace.”