Historically in the Christian church, the Sundays in Lent have been referred to as “mini-Easters.” Therefore, Christians often emphasized the passion of Jesus during the special midweek services instead of during the regular Sunday services. According to a custom stemming from this practice years ago, however, Christians started calling the regular Sundays in Lent “Passion Sundays,” and the focus spread between the normal Sunday and midweek, special Lenten services.
In particular, today’s gospel reading reflects Jesus’ passion by outlining how hatred against our Christ had increased. We note, too, how in Psalm 73 the Spirit’s chosen writer, Asaph, acknowledged that unbelievers seem to have no struggles—unlike Christians—as wells as the disdain those without regard for God have for Christians…including our Jesus!