Sunday reflections

The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd tenderly carrying a sheep on his shoulders was one of the earliest images of Jesus in Christian art. It was found in the Roman catacombs, the ancient cemeteries outside the city of Rome where the early Christian martyrs were buried. It has remained a much-loved image of Jesus throughout the centuries.

This week’s gospel presents a scene so familiar that we can almost picture it happening on an Aussie beach. After all, what’s more Australian than a feed of fish and chips by the water after a long day?

Fear can be such a paralysing emotion. With its familiar twin, anxiety, it keeps us from acting or thinking constructively and clouds our awareness of grace. In this week’s gospel reading, the disciples are gathered in fear behind closed doors. They are terrified about what may happen next.

There was a Russian Cossack, who had two sons in the First World War. Their names were Peter and Gregory. One day the father received a letter from the front. Unable to read he handed it to his daughter.

The liturgy of Palm Sunday is designed to reflect the dramatic mood swing that accompanies the events of that day when Jesus was triumphantly welcomed into Jerusalem, only to face his rejection and crucifixion a few days later. On one occasion, I experienced the excitement, especially among the children, when a live donkey led the procession into the church. More difficult is the challenge of helping the congregation adjust to the change of mood as we read the Passion a few minutes later.

During Lent have we passed judgment on anyone?  On social media say, which thrives on it, or at home, at work, perhaps in church, wherever we find ourselves. Often, we criticise others so we feel satisfied we’re not like them, and as we do, we happily deflect attention from our own lives.

The parable in this week’s gospel tells us about the experience of being loved. It is about a father who shares his love equally with both his sons and as they mature into adulthood, he gives them space to make their own decisions.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. I saw these words on a poster in an employment agency I blessed. Yes, so often we judge others, based on first impressions. Once formed, first impressions can be difficult to let go, in order for us to give someone another chance or see them anew. It’s not easy to change our opinions or judgements.

In Celtic Christianity, there is a concept of “thin spaces”—places where the boundary between the earthly and the divine feels particularly close. In the Biblical stories, mountains often serve as “thin spaces”, where moments of transcendence lead to direct encounters with the sacred.

As we begin the season of Lent, we hear Luke’s version of the three temptations of Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry. His responses will determine the direction of his mission.