Reflection for Passiontide

I wonder what you are passionate about? Sport, music, or cooking perhaps? And there is also the passion we might have for our family, work, or our political and religious beliefs.

‘Passion’ comes from a Latin word meaning to suffer or endure. Compassion for example, means to suffer with, or alongside someone, to be prepared to engage with their pain.

Last Thursday evening at 8.00pm many of us gave a round of applause, at home or in public, as a sign of our appreciation and support for all those working in the National Health Service. As a nation we recognised they are people who are often driven by a passion for their work, sometimes placing themselves at risk as a result.

On 29th March it will be the fifth Sunday of Lent, which marks the beginning of what is traditionally called ‘Passiontide’ in many Christian churches. This is the time when we turn our attention toward the last days of Jesus before he suffered on the cross on Good Friday.

Although many great minds have attempted it, there is no definitive answer to the problem of suffering in our world. But the Christian story in Passiontide may help us to understand, not why we suffer, but how to respond to it.

The story from now until Easter Day, is the story of Jesus engaging in our human suffering and his steadfast response to it. Which is unconditional love. The sort of love many of us applauded on Thursday evening. The sort of love that in the face of suffering and death, shows that even these can be transformed. Not taken away, but transformed by love, a love that is born of great passion.

Passiontide is the time to continue to applaud all those who suffer alongside us, and risk suffering themselves. For they are the ones, I believe, who reveal something to us of the Passion of God. A passion that provides hope in the transforming power of unconditional love.

Derek Chandler

Reflection for Palm Sunday Easter is a special time for Christians. It is different this year. During this Coronavirus crisis our thoughts are with those who are ill and those who are suffering loss. This is a dreadful time. But we can also be inspired by acts of heroism, and the sacrifices people are making to save others. Our thoughts can also turn to our faith. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us all. As Christians, we remember that Jesus, the Son of God, who came to live among us as a human being, died for us. Jesus died to save us from our sins. But this was not the end – Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Day. The week leading up to Easter is often called Holy Week. It starts with Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday Jesus rode on a donkey into Jerusalem. It must have been amazing to have been there at the time. In the distance you would have heard the commotion. It would get closer and closer. You would hear people cheering. And Jesus would have come into sight. The atmosphere must have been electric If you took part in the clapping on Thursday for the NHS and others who are giving their all for us all, then you may have experienced a rush of emotion. Being part of something greater than yourself. It was like that when Jesus came down the road. People not only shouted and cheered, but wanted to do more as they were overcome with a need to cheer. They didn’t bang pots and pans – that’s not what they did in their culture. As a sign of respect, some people took off their coats and laid them on the floor in front of Jesus. Others pulled off branches from palm trees and waved them as they shouted and cheered for Jesus. As he passed people were convinced that something special was going to happen. And something special did happen. Let us pray that we can experience the joy of Jesus in these difficult times. Mark Burton

Reflection for Maundy Thursday (To be read alongside John 13 v 1-17)

In the middle of the Passover meal that he was sharing with his disciples, Jesus stood up. There had been no servant to wait on them. A room had been prepared and the disciples had ensured that the meal was ready but it was to be a private time. Jesus wanted to spend this last evening alone with the twelve men he had especially chosen to be his closest disciples. He had many things still to teach them. As Jesus rose from the meal he took off his outer garment, wrapped a large towel around his waist, filled a bowl with water and proceeded to wash and dry the disciples' feet. This was the job of a servant. The disciples certainly didn't think it was up to them to take on the task. Jesus gives them and us a wonderful lesson in humility. They do not understand and Peter even resists Jesus, only to be told that it is essential for him to let Jesus do this. He says to Peter, "You do not understand now what I am doing but you will understand afterwards".

There are many things that happen in life that we don't understand, including the present very difficult circumstances that we are all facing due to the Coronavirus. The Scriptures are full of promises that God will never leave us or forsake us. He is with us whatever we are going through and as we trust him he will teach us more about ourselves and more about himself. Perhaps we may never understand why certain things happen, yet still our Heavenly Father is worthy of our trust. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

After washing their feet Jesus explains to Peter and the other disciples that if he, their Teacher and Lord, could wash their feet, then they too must be willing to be servants to each other and to those they would take the Gospel to. Jesus teaches them that he had not come to be served but to serve. He even washes the feet of Judas, the betrayer and of Peter, who would deny knowing him. He knew all of their hearts and yet washes all of their feet. May our hearts be open to receive all that he wants to teach us.

May we follow the example of Jesus and be willing and joyful servants, humbling ourselves and looking to him who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen.

John Volland

Reflection for Good Friday

'Why do you call it "Good Friday"? It wasn't good for Jesus.' So went a question from a child visiting the church on a school visit one day. A simple question, but it is hard to give a simple answer. I could only reply, 'No, Good Friday wasn't good for Jesus, but Easter Day was. And because of what Jesus did on Good Friday, Easter is good for you and me too.'

Some have speculated that the phrase ‘Good Friday’ may have come from ‘God’s Friday’, in other words, that it is especially holy. Whatever the origin, Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified, is the day Christians around the world have to face an uncomfortable question - does the cross of Christ serve any ‘good’ at all?

In the light of the current pandemic it will be important to think sensitively about this question. Perhaps we need to consider how we understand the idea of ‘sacrifice’. For example, for the past three Thursday evenings at 8.00pm many have applauded the dedication and sacrifices made by National Health Service staff and many others involved in caring professions. Sometimes at personal cost to themselves they are working for the ‘good’ of us collectively and we, as a nation, have shown our appreciation in return.

I believe that suffering is never part of God’s intention. Instead Good Friday is the day when Christians recognise that God engages in our suffering humanity through Jesus Christ, to bring about a greater good for the world. The cross of Christ points to a God who is right beside us bringing transformation, resurrection, new life, out of all that seems painful and futile. The German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who knew of suffering himself, once said; “The cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise godfearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ.”

Ultimately the cross of Christ is a symbol, God’s sign to us, of: hope in the face of despair, love in the face of anger, courage in the face of fear, and wholeness in the face of brokenness. Surely that is ‘good’.

Derek Chandler