Our Holy Week reflections have been prepared by the Rev Dr Kathy Galloway
Holy Week… comes to gather us around the one true holy place of the Christian religion, Jesus himself, displayed to the world as the public language of our God, placarded on the history of human suffering that stretches along the roadside. This is a week for learning not management, bargaining and rule-keeping, but naked trust in that naked gift.
(Rowan Williams)
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 12,1-11
Cleaning up the glorious mess of childbirth
Wiping the dirty faces of the children
Drying the tears of a loved one
Washing away the sweat and dust
Soothing the ointment into aching feet
Preparing the body for burial.
Always the anointing
Always the small, grace-filled rituals of the flesh
Resistance against violence
Love which touches
Until the time when touching is impossible
And all that is left
Is watching
And weeping
Prayer
Lord Jesus, it’s so good to know
That you lived in the flesh,
walked where we walk, felt what we feel,
got tired and hungry,
had sore and dirty feet.
Thank you for understanding our bodily pains and pleasures
and for valuing them.
So we pray for everyone deprived of compassionate touch
in poverty, isolation or illness,
at this time, or at any time.
Make of our lives a touching place
for the giving and receiving of your love.
Amen
A full list of all Holy Week Reflections is available here: https://wellingtonchurch.co.uk/category/holy-week-2021/
