Palm Sunday

There is little for our comfort if we really try to accompany Jesus on his journey towards the Cross. His life was always a way of the cross. There are two processions: the one with Jesus on a colt and accompanied by poor people, women, and other ‘outsiders’ proclaiming the Good News and of God’s Reign that is already amongst us. The other procession is that of Pilate representing Empire on a war horse accompanied by soldiers, the powerful and ‘insiders.’ Jesus comes with outcasts as a direct action against the occupying forces and the status quo. It is an in-your-face nonviolent mockery. We are asked which procession we choose to be part of. The kingdom of empire promises peace through weapons, military might, hoarding of resources and protection of the rich and powerful. 

Fifth Sunday of Lent

This Gospel’s traditional title fixates on the woman’s wrongdoing leading preachers to focus on sex and sin and Jesus’s final exhortation, ‘From now on, do not sin anymore’ which misses the more insidious brokenness of a society and faith that would sacrifice a woman’s well-being to shore up the value of men and their power. Jesus words, ‘Go, and from now on do not sin anymore,’ has been weaponised by people wishing to condemn others, such as LGBT people or sex workers, to justify telling them how to live their lives. To isolate this line from the rest of the text means we lost the whole spirit of the gospel message about not judging and to offer each other mercy.

Third Sunday of Lent

Jesus keeps repeating a message of God’s nearness that opens the way to make a more humane world for all. The gospel is engaging us to find a spark of humanity within ourselves and others especially wherever there is despair and pain. Today, we are brought up against the fathomless problem of evil expressed in gender inequality, the invasion of Ukraine, the silence about Yemen, Syria and Palestine. We can be lost for words when tragedy strikes us – or near us. As words fall short, we are left in the immediate moment with silence, touch, and the reassurance of presence.

Second Sunday of Lent

Last Sunday, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness towards the spectacular, magical and the powerful. He revealed who he was and who he was for. Like the Transfiguration, it was an ‘uncovering’ or unveiling of Jesus, and of God’s reign which is already present and at work even if we, like the sleeping disciples, do not notice it.

First Sunday of Lent

Archbishop Oscar Romero once said there are two plans in history: God’s plan and an idolatrous plan. This dichotomy clearly appears also in the first reading. God says to the people of Israel: ‘I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live’ (Deuteronomy 30:19). The temptations of Jesus raise two questions for us: ‘Who are we?’ and ‘What are we to do?’ We are confronted by the same question Jesus faced: do we meet ‘my’ physical needs, ‘my’ level of power and place and ‘my’ access or right to special favours from God.