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From Palm to Passion
I saw Jesus walking along by the side of the canal in Solihull yesterday. No, I really did. I was out walking the dog at about 3 o’clock and along came a young man in his 30s, wearing jeans and a tea shirt pulling a heavy, larger than life wooden cross.He was deeply engrossed in his task pulling the weight along the narrow pathway of uneven ground and it demanded his full concentration to complete. Journeying along the tow path where few walked, made this a journey of personal, focused pilgrimage rather than an act of public witness. He barely noticed me and I whispered a blessing as he laboured by. Even the dog, usually so enthusiastically friendly, seemed to realise the sacredness of the moment and just moved of the path until he had past.
Experiencing his focused effort, I realised once again why Palm Sunday soon to be upon us, gives way to Passiontide. A time of intense physical, emotional and spiritual involvement as Jesus entered fully into the task that his heavenly father had called him to complete.
At our Lent group this week we looked at the description of Jesus in John 10 as the Good Shepherd prepared to lay his “soul on the line,” (John 10: 17) for his sheep. Here is an understanding of sacrifice greater even than giving one’s life, here we have an understanding of Jesus prepared to give his inner most being. Jesus didn’t just risk his body for us he gave everything that he was and the intense involvement of this young man carrying his cross reminded me once again of the cost.
So come and join us at Lyndon to celebrate this most sacred of times. Journey with us from the cheers of Palm Sunday to the Passion of the Cross and remember, experience and give thanks. Julia Monaghan (31.03.09).