In next Sunday’s Lectionary (Passion Sunday), we read about Mary of Bethany’s extravagant gesture of devotion to Jesus and looking ahead to his death. For me, one of the meanings of ‘passion’ in Christianity is a conventional one (to people of all faiths and none) about having big emotions. Do not neglect the importance of the emotional drive in faith.
Love can be a hard thing – a struggle to do what is right for someone else – but emotion also plays a part sometimes.
‘Passion’ can also be rendered almost meaningless by, for example, “We are passionate about being a world-class centre of excellence.”