I was disappointed to read this week that Downton Abbey will come to an end this year. The series due to be screened in the Autumn will be the last. Downton Abbey was created by Julian Fellowes and follows the fortunes of an aristocratic family from 1912 to the mid-1920s. It’s one of those great divisive questions: “Do you like Downton Abbey?” Some will respond with great disappointment to the news whereas I am quite sure there will be those whose simple reaction will be, “Good riddance!”
As you have guessed, I quite enjoy the period drama series. It’s good Sunday evening viewing in my book! Like most things, the show must come to an end and so it is for Downton Abbey. You will be pleased to know that my reaction on hearing the news was not quite the same as millions of young adults around the globe at the news that Zayn Malik is leaving One Direction! To read some comments on social media, life had come to an end for many of them!
This idea that all good things must come to an end is hard to grasp at times. We become comfortable with the existence of something and just take for granted that it will be there forever or until we have become fed up with its existence. It must have been a very strange day 2000 or so years ago when Jesus entered triumphantly into Jerusalem on what we now celebrate as Palm Sunday. For the crowds gathering to offer their welcome, Jesus was the long awaited Saviour whose entry would herald a new era from God. It hadn’t crossed their minds that they were in the last days of his physical time with them. They expected Jesus to be around for the foreseeable future. Dying in a few days time – I don’t think so! Life was good, life was the most optimistic it had been for a long time and the good times were not coming to an end, or so they thought. Days later they would be shattered when the triumphant King was hauled before the Roman governor and sentenced to death on a cruel cross. Where was life in all its fullness now? It certainly felt like the good things had come to an end. How wrong they were! The ups and downs of Easter week thankfully finish on the highest point – Jesus did die, but three days later God raised him to life once again. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God opened the door to relationship with him once again. Good things were not coming to an end – they were just beginning!
We are privileged to know the full story of Easter and so this coming week as we remember the events once again let us pray for God’s eternal goodness to be shown in our presence.
Every blessing, Major Adrian