Thoughts from the Benefice
for April 2025
As I write this Easter letter in the early stages of Lent, I am very conscious of the fact that we are embarking upon a period of anticipation and, at times, subdued rejoicing. We have just enjoyed a week of warm sunshine, but now there is a chill in the air. Still, Spring is bursting out around us; the birds are singing for their territories and mates, trees are coming into leaf, the first Brimstone flutters through the garden. The Blackthorn is bursting with flowers, reminding us of the crown of thorns rammed onto Jesus’ head, though its covering with white innocent blooms, like me anticipates thejoy of Easter. Let us hope the daffodils which are coming out survive until then.
Some people have made a resolution to do something different during Lent. In the coming week we have a moment to reflect on that – how far have we fulfilled our intentions?
If it is important enough to make it a Lenten resolution, is it something that we should be doing all the time? Or is it just a brief discipline that we can forget about after Easter? We have a week to reassess things, to lay again a spiritual foundation, whether through prayer or reading, as we approach the commemoration of Jesus’ last week on earth.
It begins with his triumphal entry entry into Jerusalem onmPalm Sunday (Apr 13) when in church we bless some palms which are distributed among the congregation, and read the Passion Narrative according to St. Luke. During the next three days Jesus went about through Jerusalem teaching and healing people. Jesus knew that the Jewish authorities were looking for him and he knew what would happen to him when they found him. In the midst of his distress and anguish, he still went about loving those he met and caring for them. It all came to a head on Maundy Thursday (Apr 17) when he came to eat the passover with his disciples in the upper room, washing their feet and inaugurating the Blessed Eucharist;
‘This is my Body, which is given for you…this is my blood which is shed for you…Do this in remembrance of me.”
But Judas left this last supper together, and went out to betray him to the Jewish authorities. They went out to the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is in a torment of anguish prayed to his Father:
“Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done”.
Led by Judas, they arrested him, and after two trials during the night handed him over to Pilate, the Roman Procurator, demanding his crucifixion. (Good Friday, Apr 18) In the Walk of Witness in Blakeney from the Pastures (10.15am) we walk round the parish, stopping at several stations and reading the account of these things from St. Luke’s Gospel. This culminates on Easter Day with a sunrise service on Cley Beach at 6.00am to celebrate Christ’s resurrection with great joy, feasting and the smashing of eggs! And then on to a service in each of our five churches. Alleluia!
Rev Jo Fawcett
