Everyone is most welcome to join us for our worship on Passion Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent. The services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11.00 am at St Thomas'
If you're not able to be with us in person, you'll find some worship resources below.
Our first hymn this morning is "Just as I am, Without one Plea"
Today's Gospel
John 12:1-8 Jesus is Anointed at Bethany
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Reflection
In this short passage we see both acts of hypocrisy and love. Hypocrisy from Judas who we are told is a thief and who has already set the wheels in motion to betray Jesus, and an outpouring of Love from Mary.
In this short reflection I would like to focus on the latter. Mary has listened to Jesus’ words and teaching and unlike some, she has truly understood the trajectory of Jesus’ special destiny. She knows that it is soon time for Jesus to die. This is evident by the fact that we are told that she chooses to anoint Jesus’ feet rather than his head as would be the normal gesture of hospitality. However, it would be customary when anointing a corpse to start with the feet and so this is not just a gesture of extravagance but also a symbol of what she knows is imminent. Jesus is aware that this is Mary’s intention which is why when he rebukes Judas, He says, “She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial”.
Mary’s actions are not only fragrant and flagrant but a demonstration of an outpouring of love and intimacy towards Jesus. She is willing to spend a whole year’s wages to demonstrate her unbounded love and affection for Him. In this act of extravagance and compassion we see a foretaste of the outpouring of love that God has for us and the act that Jesus will demonstrate for us later in the week when He sacrifices His life for the sins of the world.
In last week’s reflection, we looked at the story of the prodigal son and the message that God’s love for us is unlimited, there is plenty to go around for everyone. As we approach Holy Week, perhaps it is right that we should ask ourselves, ‘what will we do with the things God has generously provided for us?’ Will we be mean and keep them to ourselves? Or might we look for how we can better serve God and what kind of service might God be asking of us? Will we waste our time and money on non-productive activities or reach out and help others? What sort of flagrant and fragrant service can we offer to God and how can we show tenderness, compassion and love to whoever we meet? God wants to love us and it is only right that we should love Him and our neighbours in return. As Jesus told us, there are no commandments greater than these.Paul
This week's Lent Reflection is by Archdeacon David Sharples
Our Prayers
Almighty God and Father,
Your love for us knows no boundaries
I give you my heart
that You may love through me
Let Your love be a fragrance that fills our lives
And let us spread the sweetness of Your love
to everyone we meet
We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord
Amen
Today we join with Churches Together and Christian Aid in a day of prayer for Ukraine. You can find how to participate on the Christian Aid facebook page - facebook.com/christianaid , or you may wish to light a candle at home and say the prayer below.
This morning's final hymn is "The Spirit Lives To Set Us Free (Walk In The Light)"
Notices
The Parish Electoral Roll closes on Saturday 9th April. To find out more please see the poster below. On Sunday the 24th April we hold our Annual Parochial Church Meeting - more details to follow next week.
All of the Holy Week and Easter Services can be found on the poster below.
