A recent comment asked why Lent 5 (this coming Sunday), the Sunday before Palm Sunday, was previously called “Passion Sunday”. Was there at some stage of Christian history a reading of the Passion on this day? The Church of England continues to call this “Passion Sunday”. The NZ Lectionary also calls this “Passion Sunday” and the (now-nearly-never-used- does-anyone-at-all-still-us-it?) NZ home-grown “Two Year Series” of readings also calls Lent 5 “Passion Sunday” (with the theme “the cross”) NZPB page 579. I have looked in some books, looked around online, and tweeted the question, but have not received what I regard as a sufficient explanation. Personally, I’m with the renewed lectionary that sees Palm Sunday as Passion Sunday and each year has a different reading of the passion story on Palm/Passion Sunday. This aside, in this post I’m more interested in the history of calling Lent 5 “Passion Sunday”. Please add in the comments what you know.
Tag Archive for 'Lent'
A Southern Hemisphere Lent photographic reflection in my garden (part 4)
Have you noticed the gold dots?
The caterpillar has stopped eating and found somewhere safe (as a pupa it is incredibly vulnerable). It has become very still and secreted a much thicker and stronger pupal skin. It produces this inside its old larval skin. It has then broken out of the old larval skin (see videos on reflection 3). You see the remains of the caterpillar skin by the pupa. Now a lot of the caterpillar’s old body dies. It is attacked by the same sort of juices the caterpillar used in its earlier life to digest its food. In a sense the caterpillar digests itself from the inside out (histolysis). Special formative cells, which have played no part in the insects larval life, have stayed hidden or protected during this partial death. Each of these groups of cells is called an ‘imaginal bud’ or a ‘histoblast’. These histoblasts supervise the building of a new body out of the soup that the insect’s digestive juices have made of the old larval body. They do this using the same biochemical processes that all insects use to turn their food into part of their bodies. This rebuilding process is called ‘histogenesis’.
Reflections based on collect/opening prayer:
Fifth Sunday in Lent March 21 from the collect/opening prayer
Fifth Sunday in Lent March 21 from the collect/opening prayer (BCP TEC)
Looking forward:
Palm Sunday/ Passion Sunday
Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)
Good Friday
Some people call Lent 5 “Passion Sunday” – I prefer to follow contemporary liturgical calendar renewal and call Palm Sunday “Passion Sunday” as that Sunday is when the passion is read and we begin the intense path of the passion. There seems no reason to start “Passiontide” now.
This Sunday, Lent 5, has a different gospel reading for Roman Catholics (John 8:1-11) than others using RCL (John 12:1-11)
What hymns, prayers, ideas, resources, for Sunday or Lent generally do you want to share in the comments?
A Southern Hemisphere Lent photographic reflection in my garden (part 3)
pupating
The following are a couple of videos I found on YouTube showing a caterpillar pupating. These videos are taken at about 10 times speed:
Here’s a family’s video at ordinary speed:
A Southern Hemisphere Lent photographic reflection in my garden (part 2)
Monarch caterpillar starting to pupate
Some celebrate this Sunday as Mothering Sunday
Reflections based on collect/opening prayer:
Fourth Sunday in Lent March 14 from the collect/opening prayer
Fourth Sunday in Lent March 14 from the collect/opening prayer (BCP TEC)
What hymns, prayers, ideas, resources, for Sunday or Lent generally do you want to share in the comments?
A Southern Hemisphere Lent photographic reflection in my garden (part 1)
Monarch caterpillars
Read – reflect – respond (in prayer, silence, possibly a comment)
Lectio Divina – sacred reading
Virtual Chapel with daily updates
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to [Jesus].
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable:
11 [...]“There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.
14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.
16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.
17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’
20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe–the best one–and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.
27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’
28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’
31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
Grant, most merciful Lord,
to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that they may be cleansed from all their sins,
and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Read – reflect – respond (in prayer, silence, possibly a comment)
Lectio Divina – sacred reading
Virtual Chapel with daily updates
Matthew 21:33-43
33 [Jesus said] “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.
34 When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce.
35 But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way.
37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’
39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’?
43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.
Grant, O Lord,
that as your Son Jesus Christ prayed for His enemies on the cross,
so we may have grace to forgive those who wrongfully or scornfully use us,
that we ourselves may be able to receive your forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Read – reflect – respond (in prayer, silence, possibly a comment)
Lectio Divina – sacred reading
Virtual Chapel with daily updates
Luke 16:19-31
19 [Jesus said] “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.
24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.
26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’
27 He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house–
28 for I have five brothers–that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’
29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
O Lord, strong and mighty, Lord of Hosts and King of glory:
Cleanse our hearts from sin, keep our hand pure, and turn our minds from what is passing away;
so that at the last we may stand in your holy place and receive your blessing;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Third Sunday in Lent March 7- a reflection based on the collect/opening prayer
What hymns, prayers, ideas, resources, for Sunday or Lent generally do you want to share in the comments?
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Lectio Divina – sacred reading
Matthew 5:43-48
43 [Jesus said] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
O God, by your Word you marvelously carry out the work of reconciliation:
Grant that in our Lenten fast we may be devoted to you with all our hearts,
and united with one another in prayer and holy love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
George Herbert, Priest, 1633
Our God and King,
who called your servant George Herbert from the pursuit of worldly honors to be a pastor of souls, a poet, and a priest in your temple:
Give us grace, we pray, joyfully to perform the tasks you give us to do,
knowing that nothing is menial or common that is done for your sake;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Temple: The Poetry of George Herbert (Christian Classic)
Hymns
It is regularly said now that Eastern and Western Christianity form two lungs of Christianity. We might also refer to head and heart, etc. needing to work in balance. Western theology is regularly connected to philosophy, arguing about words – words, words, more words. While Western theologians are often philosophers, Eastern theologians are often artists, poets, musicians, etc. Eastern theology is generally more at home with symbolism, ritual, liturgy… Maybe we in the Western Christian tradition might take some time this Lent fasting from words, words, and more words – and give over more time to art, symbol, music, liturgy, mystery… What do you think?
Some are celebrating the Transfiguration this Sunday (Luke 9:28-36), others are reading Luke 13:31-35. Here are some reflections for starters
Second Sunday in Lent February 28 (Transfiguration option) from the collect/opening prayer
Second Sunday in Lent February 28 (CofE Common Worship) from the collect/opening prayer
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy:
Be gracious to all who have gone astry from your ways,
and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith
to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son;
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
BCP (TEC) Lent 2
Others may like to add hymns, prayers, ideas, resources, for Sunday or Lent generally
Read – reflect – respond (in prayer, silence, possibly a comment)
Lectio Divina – sacred reading
Matthew 6:7-15
7 [Jesus said] “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Grant to your people, Lord, grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh ad the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only True God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr of Smyrna, 156
O God, the maker of heaven and earth, who gave to your venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp, boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Saviour, and steadfastness to die for his faith: Give us grace, following his example, to share the cup of Christ and rise to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
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