Patrick Comerford
We have come to the end of Passion Week, and Holy Week begins tomorrow, Palm Sunday (13 April 2025). This evening is also the first night of Passover, which begins at sunset and continues until the evening of Sunday 20 April 2025.
Before today and the weekend begin, I am taking some quiet time this morning to give thanks, to reflect, to pray and to read in these ways:
1, reading today’s Gospel reading;
2, a short reflection;
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary;
4, the Collects and Post-Communion prayer of the day.
John 11: 45-47 (NRSVA):
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, ‘What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.’ 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all! 50 You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.’ 51 He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. 53 So from that day on they planned to put him to death.
54 Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples.
55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple, ‘What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?’ 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
Today’s Reflection:
As we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week, the Gospel readings at the Eucharist in the lectionary focus on how the plots against Jesus have been escalating in Jerusalem. In today’s reading, the Passover is near, and many people have gone up to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves (verse 55).
This morning’s reading (John 11: 45-47) follows the Gospel passage about the raising of Lazarus (John 11: 1-45), the seventh of the Seven Signs in Sait John’s Gospels and a story sometimes associated with last Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent (Lent V), though not read in Years B and C.
Many of the people who have come to Jerusalem are wondering where Jesus is and whether he is coming to the city for the festival (verse 56). But Jesus knows he is not safe and is no longer walking about openly. Instead he has retreated to Ephraim near the wilderness with the disciples (verse 54).
Where do you look for Jesus?
Where do you find him?
Where do you expect to find him?
Do you look for him in the crowds and in the cities?
Do you only look for him at the time of the big festivals, such as Christmas and Easter?
Do you look for him in the wilderness?
Do you take time to be with him on your own, setting aside times for retreat and prayer?
Do you only seek him in the wilderness times in your own life, in anxious moments or times of crisis?
Do you find him among his disciples, in the church and among people whose lives reflect the values of the kingdom of God?
Today’s Prayers (Saturday 12 April 2025):
The theme this week in ‘Pray With the World Church’, the Prayer Diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), has been ‘Healthcare in Bangladesh.’ This theme was introduced last Sunday with a Programme Update by Suvojit Mondal, Programme Director for the Church of Bangladesh Community Healthcare Programme in Dhaka.
The USPG Prayer Diary today (Saturday 12 April 2025) invites us to pray:
Lord, we lift the people of Bangladesh, where malnutrition and ill health persist, especially among women and children. May your healing touch bring hope and wellness to every family.
The Collect:
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.
The Post Communion Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ,
you have taught us
that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters
we do also for you:
give us the will to be the servant of others
as you were the servant of all,
and gave up your life and died for us,
but are alive and reign, now and for ever.
Additional Collect:
Gracious Father,
you gave up your Son
out of love for the world:
lead us to ponder the mysteries of his passion,
that we may know eternal peace
through the shedding of our Saviour’s blood,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Collect on the Eve of Palm Sunday:
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.
Yesterday’s Reflection
Continued Tomorrow
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
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