Collect and Readings for The Sunday next before Easter or Palm Sunday – Liturgy of the Palms: Luke 19.28-40, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, and the Liturgy of the Passion Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm31:9-18, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14 - end of 23
The Prayer for today Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
It is no accident that the Isaiah reading, the Psalm, and the passage from Philippians prepare us to hear the Gospel narrative of the Passion with our hearts as well as our ears. They have been chosen to work on our understanding and bring us to the point where we sense deep truths and echoes of hope, right in the centre of the gruelling and disturbing events of the Crucifixion. And even before these readings we will have joined with the crowds in waving our palm branches and celebrating Jesus’ entry into the city. It is a day of mood changes and can feel quite emotionally draining.
The Isaiah passage introduces us to the concept of the Saviour being a vulnerable, suffering servant, obedient to God’s will, and utterly faithful to his calling, in spite of the rejection he receives and the way his mission is misinterpreted. Then the Psalm expresses firm trust in God’s loving goodness which continues for ever. This is not a shallow feel-good factor, but a steady pulse of assurance which works in our bewildering and distressing times, as well as the times of relief and light-hearted happiness.
The letter to the Philippians focuses our attention on the amazing generous nature of Christ’s humility. With the Isaiah passage fresh in our minds, we realise that Jesus is taking on that suffering obedience of the loyal servant which is bound to bring with it rejection and worldly failure and misunderstanding.
So, when we come to the story of the Passion in today’s Gospel, all echoes from Isaiah, the Psalm and Philippians are there, enabling us to grasp something of the cosmic proportions of what we are witnessing; something of the extraordinary love and provision, gracious humility and total faithfulness of our God.
• How did reading the story of the Passion make you feel?
• Was there any way the suffering and death of Jesus could have been avoided?
• From reading the account of the Passion, what do you think we learn about the nature of God?
God bless and stay safe and well.
Rev’d Fiona Robinson
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Collect and Readings for The Fifth Sunday of Lent – Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126 Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8
The Prayer for today
Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ delivered
and saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may
triumph in the power of his victory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive
and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Today we become aware of the shadow of the cross as we draw closer to Holy Week and Easter. There is a sense of inevitable sadness and suffering as we sit with Jesus and his friends, and Mary anoints his feet with the pure nard as if lovingly and lavishly preparing him for death.
Yet, although there is sadness, this is not a time for despair or hopeless resignation. Far from it. Even as Judas dismisses Mary’s act as sentimental extravagance, we know that this suffering will be the gateway to something of vital importance. The echoed words of the prophet – ‘forget the former things - I am doing a new thing’ - brings with them a wonder and excitement for the gathering momentum of Jesus’ time on earth.
This is to be greater even than the great escape story of Exodus. This rescue will be God acting in an extraordinary way, breaking completely new ground.
Paul writing to the Christians at Philippi, gives us such a catalogue of sufferings as to make anyone considering following Christ to think again. Why commit yourself to something which will lead you into such discomfort and insult? Yet Paul sounds anything but resentful. He is so impressed by what he has gained in Christ that he is more than happy with the hardships. This suffering is positive and full of hope.
Some things to reflect upon:
· Does Paul’s view of suffering tie in with your experience, or do you feel suffering and sacrifice are, in reality, nothing but negative?
· What different agendas were there at the meal where Jesus was guest?
God bless and stay safe and well.
Rev’d Fiona Robinson
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- Written by Fiona Robinson
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