From the Vicarage - April

"Why don't you wear a suit?" The question asked of Ukrainian President Zelensky during his meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office will surely go down in history. Those who accused the war-weary Ukrainian President of showing disrespect by his suit-less attire, were keen to show in words and actions that they (the suited ones) held and wielded the power. But not in any attractive fashion!

I am old enough to remember the days when ‘power dressing’ for women became a thing which was talked about, whether in relation to the ‘suits and pearls’ of Margaret Thatcher, or the ‘excessive shoulder pads’ of the American sitcom!

April leads us to the conclusion of Lent, to the heart of Holy Week and to the joys of Easter. As Christians focus on the final stories of Jesus’ earthly life there are a number of references to his dress and clothing – each significant and telling.

On the day we keep as Maundy Thursday (Maundy from the word Mandatum and Commandment) we remember Jesus as the leader and teacher whose commandment is “to Love as I have Loved You”. He uses those words directly after having laid aside his customary clothing of a rabbi, and having tied around himself an apron or towel, to kneel on the ground as a servant and wash his disciples’ feet.

On the day we call Good Friday, Jesus is stripped of his own clothing by others and mockingly dressed in a purple robe and knotted crown of thorns. The dressing-up of Jesus is a deliberate attempt by others to reference the outward appearance of an earthly king and ruler - but only in a pantomime fashion.

Later on that same day there is a small, often overlooked, reference to the ‘seamless tunic’ of Jesus. Because it cannot be divided between the soldiers at the foot of the cross, they cast lots to see who should receive it as a trophy for their days work! But what does it symbolise? Is it a metaphor for the wholeness of life which Jesus says he offers? Does it represent Jesus’ role as a priest who seeks to unite heaven and earth, God and man? Or is it something far more tender – the gift of his mother who like other Jewish mothers wove it to give to her son as he left the family home and stepped out into the world. Here, as it is dropped at the foot of the cross, he must leave his earthly mother and her tears, so as to be at one with his heavenly Father.

Easter Sunday brings for Christians an outpouring of celebration and joy. The joyful celebration is fuelled by our realisation that as dawn breaks over the empty tomb, light has wielded its power over darkness, servanthood over tyranny, love over hatred. This is not a power which crushes and destroys, but which lifts and raises; this is not an unattractive power, but a power which shines with hope and with beauty.

And as far as I know, there is not a suit in sight!

With Love & Prayers for Lent, Holy Week & Easter.

Carolyn (Vicar)