Week of Prayer 1

At the beginning of Lent I was asked to produce some resources for a week of prayer and reflection for Lent. It seems quite appropriate to post these here now we have arrived at Holy Week. I hope that you find them useful in some way.

The Places of the Passion

Places can be very important to us as people. We can all think of places that have marked significant moments in our lives. Perhaps you still remember the place where you first learnt a new skill such as riding a bike or swimming, or the place where you met someone whose friendship and support would be significant in your life. Some of us have special memories of a significant holiday destination or beautiful church, one that we sometimes dream about on a dull and rainy day.  When we revisit a favourite childhood place the sights, sounds and the smells bring up memories that we thought we had long forgotten. Once again we are four years old, playing in the sand, or splashing in the water.

This week is a chance to mentally visit some of the places where the Passion story first unfolded in order to shine a new light and perspective upon the events of the first Easter. These stories have become very familiar to us, and yet looking at them from a new angle can open us up to God’s Spirit, who gently calls us to spend some time at the foot of the cross of Christ so that we may lay down our burdens of guilt, sin and sorrow and step into new life and joy this Easter.

Sunday -  The welcoming home of Mary and Martha


Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.  (Luke 10:38)

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 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. (John 12:1-3)

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. (Mark 11: 11)

Mary and Martha welcomed Jesus into their home, which they shared with Lazarus their brother. Amidst the turmoil and drama of the triumphal entry to Jerusalem, cleansing of the temple, and the plots and accusations of the chief priests and pharisees it must have been wonderful to have a place of love and welcome to return to. Bethany is still a beautiful place, situated half an hour’s walk away from the city. It  must have been a real refuge of normality away from the politics and pressures of the city of Jerusalem itself. Yet it wasn’t merely the distance away from the city which made it such a refuge. It was Martha’s cooking and Mary’s attentive listening to Jesus, helping to meet his needs at a very practical level so that he could meet their spiritual needs.

Pause for thought

Is my home a haven?
How can I be more hospitable, following the Benedictine principle of treating every guest as if Christ himself were visiting me?
Are there places that I go to find a haven of peace away from my work?
Do I need to visit one of these places again soon?