That we may know eternal peace

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.