Before Abraham was, I am

The Gospel for Passion Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, contains one of the more unnerving passages in the Gospel - a tense exchange between Jesus and "the Jews" - which is St. John the Evangelist's short hand for the political and religious establishment in Jerusalem. Jesus assertion that, "Before Abraham was, I am" must have hit them with the force of a hammer because in using that phrase Jesus is asserting his divinity, asserting that He is, "God of God, Light of light, Very God of very God." For the Pharisees and their sympathizers this could seem like nothing less than blasphemy, but it was also the truth. The Prologue to the Gospel of St John closes with the words, "And the Word became flesh, and we beheld his glory; glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

It is the fact that Jesus was both fully human, and fully divine which is the foundation of our hope. In being God and Man, He reconciled the Father to humanity, and humanity to the Father allowing the ancient enmity brought about by the rebellion of Adam to be healed. However, that healing came at a price - nothing less than the betrayal, trial, condemnation, and crucifixion of the Christ.

The Fifth Sunday in Lent is, in the traditional western Church Calendar the point at which we turn from the contemplation of our own sins to the sacrifice by which those sins are healed. Passion Sunday reflects on the short tempered exchange between those who accuse Jesus of being in possessed, and the Son of God Himself, and it is intended to underline both the depths of their misunderstanding of His ministry and mission, and Our Lord's status as God incarnate. It is because Jesus is both God and Man that the divine is reconciled to humanity. Our fallen human natures are redeemed by His sacrifice, and those who are baptized and believe become participants in His risen life. It is this risen life which we celebrate Sunday by Sunday in God's Church coming together to worship Him who is "the way, the truth, and the life." Over the next two weeks there will be a number of services by which we will seek to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ sacrifice starting with Morning Prayer and Holy Communion on Passion Sunday. The full schedule is given below: Passion Sunday - March 22nd 11am Morning Prayer and Litany 5pm Holy Communion

Palm Sunday - March 29th 11am Blessing of Palms, Procession and Holy Communion 5pm Evensong

Maundy Thursday - April 2nd

6pm Holy Communion Good Friday - April 3rd

6pm The Good Friday Liturgy