The traditional name for today, The Fifth Sunday of Lent, is Passion Sunday. It marks the beginning of the last two weeks of Lent, traditionally called Passiontide. I think the Roman Catholic Church has, since 1969, transferred the name Passion Sunday to be an alternative for next Sunday, Palm Sunday. And many Anglican provinces have followed the Roman Catholic lead. The Church of England, as far as I understand things from the lectionary, allows for either. The Collects, however, read as though we should still call this Sunday by its traditional name. Personally, I prefer to keep the traditional name because of the way it points us towards the passion of Christ.

Today’s Collect tells us in no uncertain terms what Christ’s death achieved for us — eternal peace: the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). We can enjoy a peace-filled eternal life because of what God, through his Son, did for us on the cross. He suffered the agonies of crucifixion so that we may know eternal peace.

That’s how much God loves us! Isn’t that an incredible thought?! Every year at this time, in the two weeks of Passiontide, I shed many a tear thinking about the sacrifice that was made for me.

“Amazing Love, O what sacrifice, The Son of God, given for me” Graham Kendrick.

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.

Additional Collect for The Fifth Sunday of Lent
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

On each day during Passiontide a couple of years ago I published a short reflection on one of the Stations of the Cross. Here is a linked-list of those posts; they may help you on your journey through these last two weeks of Lent.

The traditional name for today, The Fifth Sunday of Lent, is Passion Sunday. It marks the beginning of the last two weeks of Lent, traditionally called Passiontide. I think the Roman Catholic Church has, since 1969, transferred the name Passion Sunday to be an alternative for next Sunday, Palm Sunday. And many Anglican provinces have followed the Roman Catholic lead. The Church of England, as far as I understand things from the lectionary, allows for either. The Collects, however, read as though we should still call this Sunday by its traditional name. Personally, I prefer to keep the traditional name because of the way it points us towards the passion of Christ.

Today’s Collect tells us in no uncertain terms what Christ’s death achieved for us — eternal peace: the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). We can enjoy a peace-filled eternal life because of what God, through his Son, did for us on the cross. He suffered the agonies of crucifixion so that we may know eternal peace.

That’s how much God loves us! Isn’t that an incredible thought?! Every year at this time, in the two weeks of Passiontide, I shed many a tear thinking about the sacrifice that was made for me.

“Amazing Love, O what sacrifice, The Son of God, given for me” Graham Kendrick.

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.

Additional Collect for The Fifth Sunday of Lent
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

On each day during Passiontide last year I published a short reflection on one of the Stations of the Cross. Here is a linked-list of those posts; they may help you on your journey through these last two weeks of Lent.

Station Fourteen

– Jesus is laid in the tomb –

Jesus, your body is prepared for burial. Joseph gave you his own tomb. He laid your body there and rolled a large stone in front of it, then went home. What a sad day it has been for so many people.

Sometimes we can be selfish. We can accumulate things and keep them for ourselves. We try to make sure we have what we want before we share what we have with anybody else.

Help us think of Joseph of Arimathea, who risked his own life as he accepted Jesus’ body for burial. Help us think of how Joseph loved Jesus so much that he gave him his own tomb.

† † †

O God, your blessed Son was laid in a tomb in a garden and rested on the Sabbath day: Grant that we who have been buried with him in the waters of baptism may find our perfect rest in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Station Thirteen

– Jesus is taken down from the Cross –

Jesus, how brutally you were put to death. How gently you are taken from the cross. Your suffering and pain are ended, and you are put in the lap of your mother. The dirt and blood are wiped away. You are treated with love.

Sometimes we seem to be kinder when someone dies. If only we could learn to see the good things about them while they were alive. If only we would tell those around us how much we love them, while we still have the opportunity to do so.

Help us look for the good in those around us, especially those we love the most. Help us live each day as if it were the last. Help us become more gentle and loving people through our greater appreciation for those around us.

† † †

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.

Station Twelve

– Jesus dies on the Cross –

As Jesus hung on the cross, he forgave the soldiers who had crucified him, and prayed for his mother and friends. Jesus wanted all of us to be able to live forever with God, so he gave all he had for us.

Jesus, let us take a few moments now to consider your love for us. Help us thank you for your willingness to go to your death for us. Help us express our love for you!

† † †

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection: who lives and reigns now and for ever. Amen.

Station Eleven

– Jesus is nailed to the Cross –

You are stretched out on the cross you have carried so far. The soldiers take big nails and drive them into your hands and feet. You feel abandoned by the people you loved so much. People seem to have gone mad. You have done nothing but good, yet they drive nails through your hands and feet.

Sometimes we discriminate against others. Even without thinking, we judge others because of their colour, intelligence, income level or name. We forget that we are to live as a brother or sister to all people. Sometimes we use harsh words when we speak to our children and family members. We can find it easy to look for something that isn’t very important and make it very important.

Help us look again at the people around us. Help us see the hurt and pain we have caused in others. Help us make amends for the harm we have done.

† † †

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honour of your name. Amen.

Station Ten

– Jesus is stripped of his garments –

The soldiers notice you have something of value. They remove your cloak and throw dice for it. Your wounds are torn open once again. Some of the people in the crowd make fun of you. They tease you and challenge you to perform a miracle for them to see. They’re not aware that you’ll perform the greatest miracle of all!

Sometimes we repeat stories that are disrespectful of others. We can entertain thoughts that are not clean. Sometimes we give the young people around us a bad example to follow.

Help us to keep ourselves pure and clean. Help us say things that build up the people around us. Help us overcome worldly desires that we may become more like Jesus. Help us set a good example for others to follow.

† † †

Lord God, who’s blessed Son our Saviour gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon,: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident to the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Station Nine

– Jesus falls for the third time –

Jesus, your journey has been long. You fall again, beneath your cross. You know your journey is coming to an end. You struggle and struggle. You get up and keep going.

Sometimes we feel that we should have conquered our weaknesses by now. We become discouraged when we’re confronted by the same problems over and over again. Sometimes we get weary. When we have health problems, we can become discouraged and depressed.

Help us think of the cross you carried. Help us continue to hope that we can make the changes in our lives we need to. You didn’t give up; help us find the strength to get up again as well.

† † †

O God by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Station Eight

– Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem –

Jesus, as you carry your cross you see a group of women along the road. As you pass by you see they are sad. You stop to spend a moment with them, to offer them some encouragement. Although you are have been abandoned by your friends and are in pain, you stop and try to help them.

Sometimes we act like children. We become so absorbed in ourselves and in what we’d like that we forget about the needs of others. We take them for granted, and often ignore their needs.

Help us to think more about others. Help us to remember that others have problems, too. Help us respond to them even when we’re busy or preoccupied with our own problems.

† † †

Teach your church, O Lord, to mourn the sins of which it is guilty and to repent and forsake them, that, by your pardoning grace, the results of our inequities may not be visited upon our children and our children’s children: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Station Seven

– Jesus falls for the second time –

This is the second time you have fallen on the road. As the cross grows heavier and heavier it becomes more difficult to get up. But you continue to struggle and try until you’re up and walking again. You don’t give up.

Sometimes we think we should know more than we do. We become impatient with ourselves and find it hard to believe in ourselves when we fail. It is easy to despair over small things, and sometimes we do.

Help us when things seem difficult for us. Even when it’s hard, help us get up and keep trying as you did. Help us do our best without comparing ourselves with others.

† † †

Almighty and ever living God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering and also share in his resurrection: who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.