We talk of the last weeks of Christ´s life on earth as his Passion. Yet how odd that we should use the same word for a strength of feeling (being ‘passionate’ about something), to describe a romance (being passionately in love), as to describe the last weeks of Christ’s earthly life (his passion).

The root meaning of the word ‘passion’ …is the Latin word, ‘to suffer’. It fits for Christ, but it fits uncomfortably with other examples. But then it’s the same word as the word ‘passive’, being done unto, being acted upon, offering no opposition, being submissive. Because that’s what it’s like when you are taken over by a feeling, that’s what it’s like when you fall in love with someone. And that was what it was like for Christ in his last days – passion, being done unto, offering no opposition, letting go.

So why was Jesus so passive? Why did he stick up there on the cross & not come down and flatten his persecutors? I can’t imagine that he went easily up to the cross, that he simply said: “well, I’m the Son of God – and this is just something I’ve got to do, to get through, something that comes with the territory: I’ll just grit my teeth and tough it out”. But I also can’t imagine that, behind that agonised face on the cross, was a secret smile: the one person who knew that he was actually going to rise again. I don’t think so – because any of that would have been to deny his real despair, the total human dereliction of being nailed to a cross, …and dying.

Rather Jesus went with genuine uncertainty, with no assurance, no comfort, no knowledge…. that all would come right in the end. But what he did have was a grain of faith, an openness to that crazy uncomfortable possibility, that somehow his death may be fruitful, it may be beneficial…..for others.

John Austin Baker, former Bishop of Salisbury, wrote: “The crucified Jesus is the only accurate picture of God the world has ever seen.”

See our full programme for Lent, here: https://stgeorgesmalaga.com/lent/

Picture shows the Calvary Cross on Caldey Island in South Wales

The Holy Week services, from Palm Sunday to Easter Day, are quite unlike anything else in the church’s calendar. For once we are not spectators: instead we are here to take our part in the events around us. We are the people of Israel, waving our branches of palm and shouting Hosanna to the Son of David. We are the disciples, eating and drinking at that solemn and mysterious last supper in the Upper Room. With St Mary and St John, we watch in shock and despair at the death of Jesus on the Cross. And, with Mary Magdalene, we see an open tomb and, singing Alleluia, we run to tell our friends the glorious news of Christ's resurrection.

The week begins with Palm Sunday. we gather tomorrow morning at the English Cemetery gates for the blessing and procession of palms to begin at 11:30. (If the weather is inclement we will gather in the church). We process to the church to symbolise our Lord's entry into Jerusalem. Together with the people of Israel, we have followed Jesus and been amazed as he has performed his miracles and pulled the crowds. And as he dramatically enters Jerusalem, on a donkey, we bathe in the sunlight of the superstar and wave our palm branches to welcome him. You are welcome to bring your own branch of something suitable.

But the people who will crucify Jesus on Good Friday are the same people who honour him today. They don't crucify an unknown or a stranger. They crucify a man who had extended to them a love, a dignity and a majesty. Today they shout, ‘Hosanna to the king’, and on Friday they will shout, ‘we have no king but Caesar’.

Why? Because we human beings are fickle, we change our minds, we are swayed by others - because we are made up of a mixture of different people and different feelings. And because of that thing inside us which makes it so difficult to receive unrestrained, unlimited, boundless and undemanding love.

To see 'Holy Week in 3 minutes', a video by the Catholic media agency, Busted Halo, click here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=qdrPhxqRP9I&si=dWO6pDuZRU8jKyI5.

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