One of your friends has been betrayed! An associate has seen advantage for himself at the expense and life of your friend.

Would you do such a thing? Would you protect your friend?

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus – Luke 22:47 – 53 (NRSV)

While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”

Follow Beth’s journey towards to The Cross using the Stations of the Cross by Gwyneth Leech.

It is an ordinary scene, friends arrange to have a meal together, and subsequently spend the evening around the table. There will be discussions on many topics. Around any table of friends they will all have thoughts in their minds, some about the meal, some about other things. Some will be thinking about those round the table. Surely none would be about to betray his friend and which would lead to he execution.

Next time you are sitting round a table with a group of friends, what are you thinking. Do you have uncharitable thoughts towards any round the table? Why?

The Last Supper – Luke 22:7 – 23 (NRSV)

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” They asked him, “Where do you want us to make preparations for it?” “Listen,” he said to them, “when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.” So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.

Then one of your friends says you are going to deny you know him. What do you say? You say “Of course you will stand by your friend”, but will you when the challenged?

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial – Luke 22:31 – 34 (NRSV)

“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”

More from Beth during Holy Week:

• Jesus meets the Women of Jerusalem
• Jesus Falls
• Jesus Is Stripped For Crucifixion

During the Triduum, Beth will continue to post using the Stations of the Cross by Gwyneth Leech. Why not continue to follow her journey towards Jerusalem.

They rise, and needs will have
my dear Lord made away;
a murderer they save,
the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful he to suff’ring goes,
that he his foes from thence might free.

Here might I stay and sing,
no story so divine;
never was love, dear King,
never was grief like thine.
This is friend in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

The final two verses of Samuel Crossman’s My song is love unknown reflects on the masses calling for the releasing of Barabbas, as recalled by the Luke’s telling on The Passion:

Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”

But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

Luke 23:18 to 25 (New Living Translation)

As I reflected yesterday, when considering the third verse the mob called for crucifixion and the release of murderer Barabbas. The fifth verse again reminds us of this.

Following the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea, offered his tomb for the repose of the body of Jesus, again as told by Luke:

Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.

As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.

Luke 23:50 to 56 (New Living Translation)

Joseph did not agree with the what had happened, although he did not speak out at the time, he felt that he had to do something to ensure that the body of Jesus was treated with respect. A reflection of the last two lines of the hymn:

This is friend in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

As we reach the Tridium, the raw emotion of the Last Supper, the Betrayal and Crucifixion are recalled, leading to the glorious ressurection on the third day – the first Easter Day.

Continuing with Beth’s journey to the Cross with the aid of the Stations of the Cross by Gwyneth Leech, we now reflect on Jesus meeting his Mother and Simon of Cyrene Carrying Jesus’ Cross

Sometimes they strew his way,
and his sweet praises sing;
resounding all the day
hosannas to their King:
then ‘Crucify!’ is all their breath,
and for his death they thirst and cry.

Why, what my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
he gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
themselves displease, and ‘gainst him rise.

The third and fourth verses from Samuel Crossman’s hymn, My song is love unknown.

The crowd enthusiastically greeted Jesus on his ride into Jerusalem, was told by Luke

As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Luke 19:36 to 40 (New Living Translation)

However a few days later the crowd stirred up by the High Priests, who saw Jesus as a threat to their way of life, turned on him. Not wanting to be stick out from their family and friends members of the crowd followed the path of least resistance and called for the crucifixion of Jesus.

Why?

Jesus had healed the sick and had taught of compassion to those around us whether we know them or not. What wrong had he done? Even Pilate found no charge against him, however he washed his hands and handed Jesus back to be tortured and put to death. Pilate offered the crowd to release Jesus, but the crowd called for Barabbas.

If you had been in that position what would you have done? Gone with the crowd, or stood up for the innocent man?

In her posts yesterday Beth recalls Jesus being condemned to death and Jesus taking up his Cross, illustrated by pictures from the Stations of the Cross from Gwyneth Leech, showing Pilate washing his hands and Jesus bearing his Cross

Beth’s journey toward the Cross

My song is love unknown,
My Saviour’s love to me,
Love to the loveless shown,
that they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake,
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

He came from his blest throne,
salvation to bestow;
but sin made blind, and none
the longed-for Christ would know,
But O, my friend, my friend indeed,
who at my need his life did spend!

As we enter Holy Week, for Monday here is the first two verses from Samuel Crossman’s hymn My song is love unknown, normally sung to the music of John Ireland.

Reflecting on Jesus being God made flesh and become human. From his nativity and his years of teaching, it moves us to the pain and passion of Holy Week. Jesus came to teach and guide us. He challenged the authorities in first century Palestine – Roman and Jewish. As Crossman infers, God loves us unconditionally he comes from on high to join us. He is our friend and is always there for us.

Do we realise this?

Throughout Holy Week 2013, I am also following Beth’s Journey. I commend you to read her postings, which will be using the visual imagery of the Stations of the Cross from the American Artist Gwyneth Leech commissioned by Saint Paul’s on the Green in Norwalk Connecticut in 2004.

As the week progresses I will link to the various posts of Beth.

As we approach Easter, today we celebrate the procession of Jesus into Jerusalem.

At this end of Holy Week the crowds are cheering Jesus, as we travel with him over the coming days the crowd will turn against him, his friends will deny him and he will be betrayed.

Jesus entry into Jerusalem

This pictures comes from a show I was involved with in 2004 when Theatre South Productions presented Jesus Christ Superstar, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, at Eastwood Theatre. Singing Hosanna, the crowd are welcoming Jesus with their palm fronds.

Above them, the priests are looking down on them in disdain.

As we approach the end of Lent, the new Archbishop of Canterbury – Justin Welby – is undertaking a journey of prayer prior to his Enthronement at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday (21 March 2013). On the day before Passion Sunday his took his journey to London and having spent the morning at St Paul’s Cathedral he crossed the Thames via the Millennium Bridge into the Diocese of Southwark.

Archbishop of Canterbury blessing Borough Market
16 March 2013

His first stop on his walk was at Borough Market where he rang the Market Bell before blessing the market and traders. He then continued his walk to Southwark Cathedral.

Bishop of Southwark and Archbishop of Canterbury outside Southwark Cathedral
16 March 2013

Outside the Cathedral he prayed by the south-west door at the cross that is erected in the church yard. Being preceded by the Zimbabwean Mothers’ Union Choir, he entered with the Bishop of Southwark, Southwark Area Bishops and Cathedral Canons.

Archbishop of Canterbury leading prayers in Southwark Cathedral.
16 March 2013

Once inside, ++Justin met his fellow pilgrims at the various prayer activities that were located around the building. With chairs removed from a section of the nave, a labyrinth was laid out on the floor. At 13:30 and hourly, he led the assembly in prayer.

As we approach Easter, we consider the Passion of Christ. Crosses and images start to be be covered in some churches, and remain so until the Easter Vigil.

The middle of Lent and we have reached Mothering Sunday, also known as Refreshment Sunday.

Carnations
10 March 2013

It is also colloquially and incorrectly called Mother’s Day. That particular celebration is a North American in origin and is the second sunday in May.

So the origin of Mothering Sunday dates back to the sixteenth century when everyone went to their Mother Church (Cathedral) on the middle (fourth) Sunday in Lent. At that time is was known as Laetare Sunday, which translates from the Latin laetare (singular imperative of laetari) to rejoice.

In the 18th and 19th centuries it was traditional for those in service to be given the day off and return to their mothers, taking Simnel Cake with them. By the 1920s the traditional faded in most areas, although lingered in the United Kingdom. In recent times posies of flowers are distributed to children for giving to their mothers.

Other names that the Sunday has been called have been Pudding Pie Sunday (in Surrey, England), Mid-Lent Sunday, Simnel Sunday and Rose Sunday.

• More on Mothering Sunday
• More on Laetare Sunday
• More on Refreshment Sunday

Zimbabwean Mothers Union Choir
3 March 2013

As part of the support that Southwark Cathedral gives to the Diocese of Masvingo in Zimbabwe, the Great Masvingo Feast took place on 3 March 2013.

Starting with the regular Sunday 11am service, at which the preacher was Father Nicolas Stebbing CR (Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield, Yorkshore) who support the work in the Diocese of Masvingo. Upon the conclusion of the service the chairs were cleared away and tables laid out for The Feast.

Looking from the Tower Space to the Font.
3 March 2013

Music was provided by a choir from the Zimbabwean Mothers’ Union and there were various displays and talks, including one from the guest of honour – Bishop Godfery Tawonezvi – of the diocese of Masvingo.

Southwark Cathedral has pledged to give £10,000 a year to the Diocese of Masvingo.

• More on the link between Southwark Cathedral and the Diocese of Masvingo
• Diocese of Masvingo website
• More on the work in Zimbabwe by the Community of the Ressurection
• More pictures from the Great Masvingo Feast

God of patience and humility,
In your love you gave your Son to be rejected and raised up on a cross.
Gather us under its shadow and open our eyes to its mystery,
that we may share even now in the life that is from above;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.