Lenten Reflections with Bishop William Cliff of the Anglican Diocese of Ontario

Palm Sunday’s joyful parade reminds us how eagerly we welcome Jesus when he meets our hopes. Yet the same crowd that shouted “Hosanna” later cried for his crucifixion, revealing how quickly disappointment turns us away. This week invites us to notice where we praise Christ and where we resist him. Jesus already knows our weaknesses and failures and loves us still. We don’t need to be perfect—only willing.
 

On this 5th Sunday of Lent, the Gospel of John’s seven signs reveal who Jesus is, culminating in Lazarus’s raising. After debates about spiritual blindness, Jesus teaches as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life. He weeps with Mary and Martha, sensing his own death, then shows power over death itself. Lazarus is raised, not resurrected, and his life is forever changed. Encounters with death transform us too, reshaping priorities and leading us toward God’s new life.

The story of the man born blind in John’s Gospel reveals both humour and deep truth, as those around him stumble in confusion, refusing to accept the miracle before them. While the healed man gains sight, the authorities remain wilfully blind, unable to acknowledge God’s work. The passage warns against limiting how God may act.
 
 

Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman demonstrates how he breaks social barriers, knowing her past yet offering compassion. Bishop Cliff reminds us to examine the walls we build that distance us from God and others, and to stay open to Christ’s challenging or comforting call, especially in Lent.
 
 
 

Nicodemus, a respected member of the Sanhedrin, approached Jesus with sincere curiosity despite his caution. His story parallels a young man who believed God hated him until he read John 3:17 and saw that God sent the Son to save, not condemn. Like Nicodemus, we’re invited to trust God’s love. 

In his first 2026 Lenten series message, Bishop Cliff reflects on Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and compares it to the everyday temptations that we face. One of the greatest temptations is our mistake in trying to control our lives without God. We need one another to stay grounded, encouraged, and open to God’s work in our hearts.