Highs and Lows

Lent is a thoughtful time, even sombre in places – but is full of highs and lows. Last month’s magazine helped us think about Ash Wednesday, about repentance and spiritual disciplines such as prayer – and I hope we take time out to think about our spiritual health. But there are also some moments of lightness in the season too.

There is an old Jewish saying: God could not be everywhere, and therefore He made mothers. Mothering Sunday is a high point when we remember all our Mothers.
Mother Church, Mother Earth, the Mother of God - our human mothers - all of them have been part of the celebration of ‘Mothering Sunday’ - as the fourth Sunday in Lent is affectionately known.

I’ve discovered that during the Middle Ages, young people apprenticed to craftsmen or working as ‘live-in’ servants were allowed only one holiday a year on which to visit their families - which is how ‘Mothering Sunday’ got its name. This special day became a day of family rejoicing, and the Lenten fast was broken. In some places the day was called Simnel Day, because of the sweet cakes called simnel cakes traditionally eaten on that day.

As we draw near to the end of March we arrive at Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, when the Church remembers how Jesus arrived at the gates of Jerusalem just a few days before the Passover was due to be held. He was the Messiah come to his own people in their capital city, and yet he came in humility, riding on a young donkey, not in triumph, riding on a war-horse.

As Jesus entered the city, the crowds gave him a rapturous welcome, throwing palm fronds into his path. They knew his reputation as a healer, and welcomed him. But sadly the welcome was short-lived and shallow, for Jerusalem would soon reject her Messiah, and put him to death.

On Good Friday all the churches in Crewe will come together to act out these events on the streets of our town. I hope that you will accompany us on this Passion Play, amidst the shoppers and passers-by. Some of them will ignore it, others may shout abuse; but some will stop and stare and be reminded of the man who is God, who came to die for us all to know God as our Father and friend.