From Downton Abbey to Jerusalem~Part 1

Downton Abbey, a British period drama is aired as a TV series on PBS Masterpiece Theater and is in its 4th season of production. This series is set in the fictional sprawling country estate of Downton Abbey, and portrays the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants.  World events impact their lives at all levels. Yet, they continue, especially, Lord Grantham, head of the Crawley family, to struggle to hold true to their traditions, values, and way of life. 

The series has covered the time period from 1912-1921 in which key characters have exited and new actors have been cast to add drama.  Hopefully I have stimulated a possible interest in you to search out this series. However, I also believe, that we can each find ourselves portrayed in many of the characters! 

Liturgically, we are soon taking leave of the fourth season of the high drama of Jesus’ ministry and mission. His whole life’s journey has been that of moving toward Jerusalem.  Along the way, much like Downton Abbey, cast and characters have exited while new actors have entered for the next series where the plot begins to thicken!!  There have been beheadings,  feasts, cures, miracles, wonders, spying, visitations, storytelling, storms at sea, divisions among political and religious leaders, and people being raised from the dead – to name just a few of the special effects!

We, too, have passed through  four seasons, namely, Advent, Christmas/Epiphany, Ordinary Time, and Lent. Now we come to the end of a series of events that have Jesus soon to make his way to Jerusalem. Now in these days before the celebration of Palm Sunday, the Scripture readings have us become aware that his face is set and there is no time to waste – his mission is on the line. An ancient poet writes of this moment in this way . . .

“He knows that he is going to die, and he has nothing left to hold onto – no illusions of the mind, no resistance in his body. He doesn't think about his actions; they flow from the core of his being. He holds nothing back from life; therefore he is ready for death."