Holy Week in Luke’s Gospel

Author John Proctor
Publisher Grove £4.95
Format pbk
ISBN 9781788274296

Holy Week in 2025 is a good time to study the Passion in Luke. On Palm Sunday, the Passion reading is from Luke 22:14 – 23: end; and throughout the week the Morning Prayer lectionary repeats these passages, although we revert to the Passion in John on Good Friday. This book from John Proctor, subtitled ‘A Credible Jesus for the Real World’ is an ideal guide for the faithful Holy Week disciple. While it is focused on the narrative of Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion, it demonstrates how Luke’s wider narrative within the whole of his gospel creates a deeper picture of his ministry. In the words of the author, ‘Luke’s Passion shows a Jesus of deep compassion and understanding, as he grieves for his people’s hurts, reaches out to strangers and bystanders and guides his disciples..

I was especially impressed by the first substantive chapter describing Jesus’ pilgrimage to the cross, from the moment he ‘set his face to go to Jerusalem’ (Luke 9:51). Describing this journey, Proctor draws out several allusions to the ‘suffering servant’ passages in Isaiah, especially from Isaiah 53:7-12. He shows Jesus to be the ‘leader of the new Exodus’ – after the Transfiguration – and also links him closely to the martyred prophets (e.g. Luke 13:31-35). On arrival in Jerusalem, he pays particular attention to the tears of Jesus over the city, rather than the triumphal entry. Proctor sees Jesus’ lament as a prophetic vision of the subsequent destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70AD.

Other chapters deal with the trial of Jesus before Herod – unique to Luke’s account – and draw out other unique narratives: the encounter with the women of Jerusalem and the dialogue with the penitent thief – examples of Jesus’ compassion and concern at the height of his suffering. Proctor’s focus then suddenly reverts to the Last Supper, which seems oddly out of sequence, until we recognise that the whole Passion narrative is about the inspiration that Jesus will give, providing ‘strength and inspiration’ for his friend (and future disciples). The acts of the crucified and risen Jesus round off this helpful booklet – a chapter that could be left until the days after Easter.

I recommend this thoughtful and wise book which may be used individually, or in groups (for there are questions for discussion at the end of each chapter). It is excellent value for money, and has potential for wider use than a Holy Week devotional, for its scope covers many facets of Luke’s enthralling narrative.

Reviewed by LEONARD RICKARD

Lent

Living Hope: A Lent Journey

Author Cathrine Fungai Ngangira, Belle Tindall, Victoria Mason
Publisher CHP £2.50*
Format pbk
ISBN 978178405000

Living Hope: A Lent Journey for Children

Author Anon
Publisher CHP £1.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781781405031

These booklets represent the Church of England’s theme for Lent 2025. The main version, comprises forty reflections, based on a series of Bible passages, together with a simple prayer to use throughout each week and a challenge linked to the daily theme.

The three authors have produced interesting and varied material around the weekly topics of hope, trusting, togetherness, noticing, courage and transformation. They have, by and large, wisely avoided the clichés and potentially over-familiar Bible passages of past booklets and have clearly worked hard to give ideas which are fresh, relevant and yet challenging. It was good, for example, to see unfamiliar passages from Lamentations and Ecclesiastes and that the prophets are well-represented. The daily challenges are original and occasionally demanding.

There is a section called ‘Introducing Lent’ which suggests there may be a focus on Christians new to the faith, or those for whom formal Lenten liturgy is unfamiliar; but all Christians may benefit from following the booklet faithfully through the Lenten season. It is, however, designed for individuals rather than home groups.

In contrast to the vibrancy of the main booklet, I found the companion for children rather mundane and unexciting and I felt that something more engaging was needed.

Reviewed by ELIZABETH STEPHENSON

Lent

Wild Bright Hope

Author Various authors
Publisher SPCK £11.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780281091003

SPCK have invited twelve Christians to tell their stories in this treasure of a book. Each story begins with a photo and a short background about the writer who then goes on to tell about their faith and their struggles along the way. The honesty is humbling, the stories are a privilege to read and the pains and joys are diverse. It is a great insight into the way faith has challenged, disappeared at times and then reappeared. Each story is one of hope – personal hope, community hope as well as hope for the future of mankind and our world. At the end of each chapter there are some challenging questions for us to use if we choose or to use for group discussion. Each story tells about the struggles with faith and how God has made Himself known, sometimes gently, sometimes with the suddenness of a violent storm and sometimes through the gentle support of another. After reading this we can be reassured, if needs be, that God will always be upholding us, even if we feel we are alone. He is loving us always and wants the very best for each of us His children. It is for each of us grasp that belief, especially in these challenging times. Read and treasure this book.

Reviewed by SUE PIPER

Lent

Searched Me Out and Known Me: Journeying Lent with the Psalms

Author Charlie Bell
Publisher DLT £12.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781915412782

Charlie Bell enthuses about the Psalms and their influence on him as a chorister. In his Preface he introduces the themes of renewal and change through an opportunity to do ‘some of the deep thinking and re-situate ourselves within the divine life to which we are called.’

Although this is arranged as a Lent book and the chapters are set out and labelled from Ash Wednesday through the Sundays of Lent to Holy Week and Easter Day, it is a valuable general resource for individuals and groups. It enables reflection to reflect on the significance of a Psalm and a linked Gospel text which refer to their liturgical setting, but have a significance for any context in which to pause and consider the meaning of words we are very familiar with using but may not have delved into more deeply: forgiveness, repentance, identity and relationships, holiness, belief and trust and the nature of waiting.

It is quite unusual to pair up Psalms and Gospel readings in quite this way adding a commentary and then discussion options if needed. This is immensely helpful as a way into meditating on how our faith connects us to the world and inspires us to dwell on ways through the busyness and contradictions we journey in as we move in a timetable imposed on us by the way life is.
Having sung in church choirs for most of my life, the words of the Psalms from the Book of Common Prayer have unconsciously taken root in my vocabulary of faith. So I may be biased in favour of this book, but I would really recommend it as a fresh, invigorating and challenging way to ‘Hear the words of joy, faith, hope, and love, and realise they are spoken to you and to the whole world.’

Reviewed by ROSEMARY WALTERS

Lent

Doorways to Hope

Author Christopher Chapman
Publisher Canterbury £12.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781786226099

Subtitled ‘Reflections on hope for challenging times’ this book has all the nuts and bolts needed for a personal Lent companion: forty short chapters, each starting with a well-chosen scripture passage or poem and concluding with suggestions for reflection and action. A format for group study is also given.

In the way we open twenty five doors in an Advent calendar here we have forty doors of Hope for Lent. Whether we are beset by personal troubles or overcome by the struggles of the world we live in, we will find doorways to hope here, for ourselves and to share. The author says in his introduction that everyone partakes of a book as they see fit. Whilst acknowledging the reader’s freedom to do this, he does suggest that the one who is tempted to skip forward should take a lesson in slowness. Even concentrating on, focusing on, one sentence each day can bring hope and blessing…and revelation.

From the initial chapter ‘When things fall apart’ to the conclusion of ‘Easter hope wakes once more’ we are led forward to resurrection with the potential for ever increasing hope. This is indeed a book to savour as it allows God to work in us.

Reviewed by LIZ PACEY

Lent