05 April 2020
00:30 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
‘THOUGHT
FOR THE WEEK’ FROM THE REVEREND STEPHEN GUISE, PRIEST IN CHARGE –
PALM SUNDAY, 5 APRIL
16th-Century
Icon of the Entry into Jerusalem
Dear
Friends
Over
the last century considerable research has been carried out into the
liturgical practices of the early Church. Scholars have unearthed
ancient texts and documents which throw a new light on the way in
which services were conducted in the first centuries, and these, in
turn, have led to revisions in the way in which we conduct services
today.
Nowhere
is this more true than in the Church of England, which, during the
1980s, ‘reinvented’ the way in which services during Lent, Holy
Week and Easter were organized.
I
remember, from my time at theological college, how the advent of a
book called Lent,
Holy Week and Easter
transformed the way in which we kept this special time of year, which
of course recalls the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
Lent,
Holy Week and Easter
drew on the diary of Egeria, probably a French or Spanish nun, who
visited Jerusalem on a pilgrimage there between AD381 and 384. She
describes the services she attended, which involved walks to and from
the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem, as well as along the via
dolorosa.
Apparently, according to her account, these events were seen as one
long service, which took place over several days: on Palm Sunday,
palm branches were carried to commemorate the entry into Jerusalem,
although no donkey was used; on Wednesday in Holy Week the focus was
on Judas plotting Jesus’ betrayal; Thursday recalled the Last
Supper, the washing of the disciples’ feet and the agony in the
garden; Good Friday focused upon the crucifixion, and then Holy
Saturday night was devoted to the Easter Vigil, with much longer
readings than we would use these days. The entirety made up a single
drama, broken up into a series of ‘acts’.
All
these aspects continue to be recognizable within our own liturgical
commemorations, although our services also draw inspiration from the
medieval passion plays, during which the Franciscans introduced
tableaux
vivants
to bring the events to life – something unheard of in Egeria’s
day.
Sadly,
of course, we shall not able to participate in these services this
year, but we can meditate on the Scriptural readings (as published in
the magazine) and in this way the events can, once again, become real
for us and will help to fortify and renew our faith.
Fr
Stephen
Collect
for 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;
who
is alive and reigns with you,
in
the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One
God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Philippians 2.5-11
A Reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death -
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the Glory of God the Father.
Matthew 21.1-11
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
When they had come near Jerusalem
and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives,
Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,
"Go into the village ahead of you,
and immediately you will find a donkey tied,
and a colt with her;
untie them and bring them to me.
If anyone says anything to you, just say this,
'The Lord needs them.'
And he will send them immediately."
This took place
to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
"Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;
they brought the donkey and the colt,
and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
and others cut branches from from the trees
and spread them on the road.
The crowds that went ahead of him
and that followed were shouting,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
When he entered Jerusalem,
the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?"
The crowds were saying,
"This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
