Throughout Holy Week leading to Easter Day, we share a series of reflections from the Cathedral Clergy released at 8.00pm daily.
Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday we share a reading from St Matthews Gospel and a short reflection and prayer from Acting Dean of Chichester, The Right Reverend Graeme Knowles.
Matthew 21: 6-9 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting 'Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!'
Father, help us to stand apart from the screaming crowd,
to see the truth of this triumphal entry.
Help us to walk with Jesus in humility
through this coming week.
Grant us the grace to share with him in his trials,
so that we also may share in his resurrection. Amen.
Image: Pietro Lorenzetti's Entry of Christ into Jerusalem (c. 1320)
Holy Monday
On Holy Monday, Canon Treasurer Vanessa shares a short reflection and prayer on the anointing at Bethany.
John 12. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Father of all mercies,
whose servant Mary Magdalene responded to your gift of forgiveness
by anointing the feet of your Son:
anoint us with your Holy Spirit
that with her we may sing our redeemer’s praises
not only with our lips but in our lives;
who is alive and reigns with you and the same Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
Image: Mary Magdalene washes the feet of Jesus, Saint-Pierre church in Dreux, 1880
Holy Tuesday
Canon Chancellor Dan shares a short reflection and prayer on Jesus's Cleansing of the Temple.
Matthew 21.12-13 Jesus entered the temple of God and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you make it a den of robbers.'
A prayer of St Augustine of Hippo
O Holy Spirit, Love of God,
pour out your grace,
and descend plentifully into my heart.
Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling,
and scatter there your cheerful beams.
Dwell in that soul that longs to be your temple.
Water that barren soil, overrun with weeds and briars,
and lost for lack of cultivating,
and make it fruitful with your dew from heaven.
Come, refreshment of those who languish and faint.
Come, Star and Guide of those who sail in the tempestuous sea of the world. You are the only Haven of the tossed and shipwrecked.
Come, Glory and Crown of the living, and only Safeguard of the dying.
Come, Holy Spirit, in your great mercy, and make me fit to receive you. Amen.
Image: Bernado Cavallino's, Christ Driving the Traders from the Temple, c.1645-50 (National Gallery, London)
Spy Wednesday
On Spy Wednesday, Canon Precentor Jack shares the work of poet Malcolm Guite about Judas, whose actions in agreeing to spy on Jesus and to betray him, help to give us the name for this day.
Matthew 26.14-16 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I betray him to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
Image: Judas receiving thirty pieces of silver for betraying Jesus, by János Pentelei Molnár, 1909.
Maundy Thursday
As we commemorate Jesus' institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, Canon Precentor Jack shares a short reflection and poem by Malcolm Guite.
John 13.12-17 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Maundy Thursday by Malcolm Guite
Here is the source of every sacrament,
The all-transforming presence of the Lord,
Replenishing our every element
Remaking us in his creative Word.
For here the earth herself gives bread and wine,
The air delights to bear his Spirit’s speech,
The fire dances where the candles shine,
The waters cleanse us with His gentle touch.
And here He shows the full extent of love
To us whose love is always incomplete,
In vain we search the heavens high above,
The God of love is kneeling at our feet.
Though we betray Him, though it is the night.
He meets us here and loves us into light.
Image: Dirck van Baburen - Christ Washing the Apostles Feet (c.1616)
Good Friday
On Good Friday we share a reading from St John's Gospel and a short reflection and prayer from Acting Dean of Chichester, The Right Reverend Graeme Knowles.
John 19. 13-16 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called the stone pavement, or in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover, and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, 'Here is your king'. They cried out, 'Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!' Pilate asked them, 'Shall I crucify your king?' The chief priest answered, 'We have no king but the emperor.' Then he handed him over to them, to be crucified.
Crucified saviour, you stretch wide your arms on the cross
so that no one is excluded from your loving embrace.
May we come to the foot of your cross,
there to lay down the sins to which we so eagerly cling.
Then to enter your kingdom of love,
peace and reconciliation. Amen.
Image: Mihály Munkácsy - Christ before Pilate (1881)
Easter Eve
On Easter Eve, Canon Treasurer Vanessa shares a short reflection and prayer on the Burial of Jesus.
John 19. 41-42 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Father of death and life,
Be with us as we wait silently outside the tomb:
may the fragrance of tomorrow’s Easter bring comfort and hope
to the pain and uncertainty of today;
through the transforming love of your Son, Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord. Amen
Image: Lamentation (The Mourning of Christ) by Giotto di Bondone (c. 1304 – 1306), Scrovegni Chapel, Italy
Easter Day
Alleluia! Christ is risen! On Easter Day we celebrate Jesus’ glorious resurrection from the dead.
An extract from the St John Chrysostom Easter homily (c.450 AD)
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?
Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!
Image: Anastasis from the Chora Church, Constantinople (11th century)