To my dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
A reflection on this Passion Sunday Gospel may begin with a question, which Gospel? Many of us will
hear the account of Jesus sending two of his disciples to the village to find a tethered colt. Jesus even
gives the disciples the answer they must use if anyone questions them about this seeming act of theft.
Jesus then rides into Jerusalem to a rapturous welcome from some at least. We listen to this Gospel
before our liturgical re-enactment of this moment by procession into our churches. It’s a strange story.
We very easily get the sense that Jesus is in charge. He is not only the central figure in these events, he
is director and producer too.
Things seem to change very quickly when we consider the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. This year
we listen to St Mark’s account of these events. The action begins in Bethany and the woman ‘wasting’
the expensive perfume over Jesus’ head. There is much for us to ponder here. Are we so generous in
our witness to our faith in Christ? Are we prepared to become disciples without counting the cost?
Again, we need to hold this truth in our hearts. All this is about Jesus. This event is a mystical prelude to
what Jesus will accomplish on the Cross. He will be obedient to the Father’s will and lay down his life in
love for us.
There is so much mystery in the story which unfolds. Again, disciples are sent into the city and invited
to prepare the room where Jesus and his disciples will eat the Passover. This is not any ordinary table
reservation in a local hostelry. The moment echoes the earlier one with the finding of the colt for Jesus
to ride into the city. Now they must follow a man carrying a pitcher of water. Something in all of this
may encourage our hearts to look forward to the Easter Vigil. There will be water there. The blessing of
the font. Possibly baptisms, and certainly our renewal of baptismal commitment with the sprinkling of
water.
At the end of the Passover meal, psalms are sung and Jesus and his disciples leave for the Mount of
Olives. Things seem to change. The weakness of the disciples is very much on display. Something
seems to slip away from Jesus himself. We hear the chilling words of the traitor, ‘the one I kiss, he is the
man. Take him in charge’. It seems that others are now in command. Despite the prophetic words of
our Lord, ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds
of heaven’, there is an inevitable impetus towards the death and destruction of Jesus of Nazareth.
The desolation reaches a new pinnacle when Jesus cries out from the Cross, ‘My God, my God, why
have you deserted me?’ And if others are assured this prefaces the end of it all, through the gift of
faith, we know differently. We hear the testimony of one who came to faith whilst standing at the foot
of the Cross. We too echo the words of the centurion, ‘Truly this man was the son of God.’
Bishop David Oakley
Bishop of Northampton
24th March 2024
Sincerely,
Bishop David Oakley
Bishop of Northampton
