Passion Sunday: responding to God

5 Passion Sunday: Responding to God

In the summer of 2010, the famous Passion Play at Oberammergau in Bavaria, Germany, was performed for yet another very successful season. The residents of the village have presented their play of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection every ten years since 1634 to increasing numbers of people from around the world. The story of how the play came into existence is fascinating. In the early 17th century, the bubonic plague struck the area and the villagers prayed to God that they would be delivered. They were, and in response they vowed to perform a passion play as a thanksgiving every ten years thereafter, for ever. With few exceptions they have kept their vow and thousands of pilgrims now travel to see the performance, which is repeated daily over several months. A combination of dramatic stage presentations and wonderful music lasting several hours, the play is well worth making the journey to watch…