Wednesday 1st April, 18.00, Arundel Cathedral, BN18 9AY. People from across our diocesan family of faith are invited to join Bishop Gerard Bradley and members of clergy at the annual Chrism Mass – one of the most beautiful Masses of the year, celebrated in Catholic cathedrals across the world in Holy Week. All are welcome

Any wrong or insult which is done to us would surely be made worse if it was done by a friend. It’s one thing to be cheated by a stranger but quite another when that person has spent the past few years enjoying our company, sharing meals with us and even participating in some of our life’s most significant moments. Indeed, so grave is the crime of treachery that Dante assigned it the lowest, and most terrible, circle of Hell. Deep down at the centre of the Inferno, in Dante’s vision, sits the Devil, whose ultimate act of Treason, rejecting God himself, started the story of Sin, Death and Destruction. Second only to the Devil and the fallen angels in Dante’s Hell is Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus.  Of course Dante did not in fact know the fate of Judas and no living person does. Even though the Lord told his apostles that it would have been better for the traitor ‘had he not been born’, we do not know what wonders God may yet have worked for this soul that betrayed him. However, as our Triduum begins and we turn our minds to consider the great wonder God worked for all of us, reconciling us with himself through the Passion and Death of his Son, we should pause to note that the glorious victory of God began in a moment of ignominious betrayal. We can be confident, that no matter how bad things are or seem to be, God can bring light out of darkness – indeed he has already done so.

On Passion (Palm) Sunday, we hear two Gospel readings. The first tells us of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The second is the full Passion account. In between are readings from Isaiah and Philippians, reminding us of Jesus’ humility and willingness to be the suffering servant of God. The combination of scriptures moves us from rejoicing and praising Jesus along with the people waving their palms on the roadside to the disturbing events that lead to his arrest, trial, and death. These scripture passages are an emotional roller coaster ride. The entire Passion story is difficult to read and hear because it is challenging to be with people who are in pain, especially when they are people we know and love. Even if we have the desire to stay present and remain loyal, Peter, James, and John remind us that sometimes the pain is just too great and we escape from it. Jesus’ three friends escaped the discomfort of being with Jesus in his agony by sleeping. Others of us avoid pain in other ways, perhaps with food, alcohol or drugs, exercise, forms of entertainment or technology use, overworking, etc. Sometimes our escape is simply by finding reasons not to spend time with the person in pain. St. Ignatius wrote a program of prayer called The Spiritual Exercises. He urges all those who are praying the Exercises to stay present to Jesus during his Passion. He suggests that we allow ourselves to feel the agony, sorrow, and distress as much as we can, to remain with Jesus, and watch with him as he asked his friends to do in the Garden of Gethsemane.  We cannot be physically present to Jesus in his suffering now, but surely there are people in our lives who are suffering with whom we can remain awake. It might be a form of agony for us to watch and to share in another’s pain, but when we do it for others, we do it for Jesus. Questions of the week Think about an experience you have had of being with someone in their pain: physical or otherwise. Did you have any urge to run away or escape it? Think of someone in your life now who is suffering. How might you make yourself available so that person will know he or she is not alone?

DO NOT FORGET ! Our annual ‘Lenten Reconciliation Service for Adults’ takes place THIS FRIDAY 27th March at 19.30 in the church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Effingham, KT24 5JP. We join with the Parish of Effingham & Fetcham in celebrating the Lord’s forgiveness ready for the great festival of Easter. We will be joined by four priests to aid us in this celebration. This is the major opportunity this Lent to ask for God’s forgiveness.

The first reading from Ezekiel is perfectly paired with the Gospel reading of the raising of Lazarus. Ezekiel hears God say very clearly that God will raise his people from the dead, animating them with the spirit that will bring them back to life. The second reading from St. Paul also addresses the Jewish and Christian theological question, “Is death the end of every thing?” Paul is as emphatic as Ezekiel. No. “The One who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also.” Of course, it might seem easy to believe in life after death until we have had a loved one die. Martha and Mary might have believed in an afterlife because, as Jews, they would have been familiar with the promise from Ezekiel. Yet when their brother died and the reality of him being gone for four days sank in, they doubted too. Not only did they doubt, but they grieved deeply, and even got angry at Jesus. Martha told Jesus she believes Lazarus “will rise, in the resurrection on the last day,” but believing that didn’t lessen her other perfectly normal human emotions. Even after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, mysteries remain. Why didn’t Jesus go to Lazarus immediately when the sisters summoned him? Why did he let them experience heart-breaking sadness for four days? Why did Jesus cry if he knew he would raise Lazarus from the dead? Why did Jesus raise Lazarus but not others who died during his lifetime? Why do some people today get to experience healing miracles, but others don’t? Why do we have to wait for the resurrection of the dead to see our loved ones again?  These readings today don’t solve any mysteries of our faith. They don’t give us answers about God, but they point to the complete conviction of three different biblical writers who do not doubt that Jesus is “the resurrection and the life.” Questions of the week  What most stands out to you when you hear the Gospel reading today? Why?  If you have lost a loved one(s), did that affect on what you believe about the afterlife? How so?

The solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord was first celebrated in the fourth or fifth century. Its central focus is the Incarnation: God has become one of us. From all eternity God had decided that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity should become human. Now, as Luke 1:26-38 tells us, the decision is being realised. The God-Man embraces all of humanity, indeed all creation, to bring it to God in one great act of love. Because human beings have rejected God, Jesus will accept a life of suffering and a terrible death: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Since Mary is the instrument of Incarnation, she has a role to play with Jesus in creation and redemption. It is a Godgiven role. It is God’s grace from beginning to end. Mary becomes the eminent figure she is only by God’s grace. She is the empty space where God could act. Everything she is she owes to the Trinity. Mary is the virgin-mother who fulfils Isaiah 7:14 in a way that Isaiah could not have imagined.  Together with Jesus, the privileged and graced Mary is the link between heaven and earth. She is the human being who best, after Jesus, exemplifies the possibilities of human existence. She received into her lowliness the infinite love of God. She shows how an ordinary human being can reflect God in the ordinary circumstances of life.

EASTER COLLECTION FOR THE SUPPORT OF PARISH CLERGY - This provides income to the Parish for the support of clergy and may be Gift Aided. Any cheques should be made payable to the ‘Sacred Heart Parish, Cobham’ (any cheques made out personally to a member of clergy are direct gifts and cannot be received into Parish funds or Gift Aided). You will find a supply of Gift Aid Envelopes for this collection in the Church Narthex

Our singers and musicians are busy in their rehearsals for leading our liturgies during Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, & Good Friday). Any and all parishioners are more than welcome to come along and join in, no previous experience necessary. If you enjoy singing as part of a group this could be for you! Dates of the remaining rehearsals:  Sat. 28 Mar. (10.30); and Wed. 1 Apr. (19.30).

The latest Deanery Newsletter is now available in the narthex and on our Parish Website. Wondering what happened to all those postcards from last Advent? The results are in! If you'd like some food for thought on Mission - this is it! What's going on around the Deanery during Holy Week and Easter?  Find out in the Deanery Newsletter, come along, and you’ll be made very welcome.