Reflection for the National CofE Online Service - Passion Sunday

Patrick Hayman, Christ Carrying the Cross

It was a great pleasure to introduce the Church of England’s National Online Service on Sunday 17th March 2024 – ‘Passion Sunday’ – Lent 5 (Year B). My homily, based on the text of John 12.20-33 is below. You can watch a recording of the service at this link. 

Our second lesson today marks something of a crossroads in the Gospel of John and in our journey through Lent. The seven signs or miracles performed by Jesus having been revealed, he turns our attention to his glory. His path to the cross. His Passion. Many churches refer to this day as “Passion Sunday.”

 

Would you describe times when you have experienced suffering - when you have had to endure or bear a great burden - using the word “Passion”? I don’t think it would be on the tip of my tongue!

 

But - the translation of a Latin word - that’s exactly what ‘passion’ means. To suffer. To endure. To bear a burden. 

 

In the reading from John’s gospel, what seems to prompt this new focus on Jesus’s glory - his Passion - is the fact that some foreigners - some non-Jews - ask to see Jesus. 

 

After which, Jesus declares: “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.” 

 

Using a parable about a grain of wheat falling to the ground, dying, rising to new life and bearing much fruit, Jesus reveals how he will be glorified. He describes the nature of his passion. His path to the cross.

 

A path which he calls us to follow “if anyone serve me, let them follow me…where I am, there shall also my servant me.” 

 

It’s a troubling thought for all of us. But Jesus knows he cannot turn back. “Father, glorify thy name”. He cries. 

 

Then a voice from heaven says “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 

 

But only Jesus hears the words. The people think it is thunder - or the presence of an angel. They aren’t listening carefully enough. Maybe they aren’t ready to hear what Jesus’s glory - his passion - really means. 

 

Perhaps those Greeks approached Philip because they saw something in him. They sensed some sort of connection. He had a Greek name, perhaps he spoke their language. They thought he would listen. 

 

How important it is for each and every one of us to be Ambassadors for Christ in the same way. Right now there may be people around us who sense a connection to us - who feel comfortable talking to us - who may be asking us to help them to see Jesus. Are we listening?

 

And how vital is it that this great church of ours is full of Ambassadors of every kind - so that every voice may be heard, every person welcomed? 

 

Of course people can rub us up the wrong way. We can find it difficult to deal with difference. But learning to live as the Body of Christ - the path we are called to follow - requires us to do so.

 

Perhaps that’s how we might understand our passion? Putting an end to our selfish attempts to play God - trying to change and control others with our own judgements and prejudices. And learning to bear the burden of the freedom that each of us has been granted to be the person God made us to be.

Falling to the ground - like the grain of wheat - in humility.

Dying to self and rising to share the glorious fruits of new life together. 

 

Learning to see Jesus in the face of all those around us. 

 

Accepting the reality of the Passion of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who draws all people to himself.