Each passion narrative is profoundly rich in meaning and helps us enter more deeply into the mystery of the crucified Lord. You are encouraged to take time this week and carefully read the Passion Narrative in its entirety so as to enter into these Holy Days with Jesus as He leads us to His glorious resurrection. The first thing to note is how Jesus takes time to accomplish some of His most outstanding ministry during His passion and crucifixion. Our Lord is continuing His incredible works of mercy even while He is suffering. Some points, which illustrate this particular concern for others, include the following:
- At the Last Supper, Peter professes his loyalty to Jesus. Jesus, for His part, knows that Peter and the others will abandon and betray Him. Nonetheless, He still shares the Eucharist with them (His very life) and prays for them. He even prays for Peter by name so that when Peter turns, that is repents and converts from his sinful denial, he would become a source of strength for the other disciples. It would certainly be difficult for us to do that for our friends if we knew they were about to betray, abandon, or deny us. Jesus loves His disciples to the end despite their sin and failure (see Lk 22:31–32).
- When the guards come to arrest Him, one of Jesus’ disciples cuts off the ear of one of the high priest’s slaves. Jesus takes time to heal the injury of those who were about to arrest Him. He cares for those who suffered violence even as they are in the process of arresting Him and about to begin His trial (see Lk 22:51).
- Notice, too, how Pilate sends Jesus to Herod for questioning. At the end of that scene Luke tells us that Herod and Pilate become friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. It is no accident that this reconciliation occurs through the encounter with Jesus. He heals a broken friendship between Pilate and Herod even as they are shuffling the Lord back and forth from one to the other as part of a sham trial (see Lk 23:12).
- When Jesus is carrying His cross and meets the weeping women, He takes time to comfort them. Even while He is heavily burdened with the weight of the cross, our Lord is not so burdened that He cannot offer a consoling word to others (see Lk 23:27–29).
- As He is on the cross, Jesus prays for the forgiveness of His persecutors. He had taught His disciples to pray for their enemies and to do good to those who hurt them in the Sermon on the Plain (see Lk 6:27-28). Now, He is showing us what love of one’s enemy looks like in practice as He absolves His very executioners (see Lk 23:34).
- While He is on the cross, He consoles the Good Thief who asks to be remembered when the Lord comes into his kingdom (see Lk 23:42). Jesus responds with the same generous mercy He exemplified each day of His life. What He gives the Good Thief is much more than what was asked. He said: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (see Lk 23:43). Even as He dies, Jesus is reconciling a sinner to God and giving salvation to one who sought it (see Lk 23:39–43).
All of these details are particular to Luke’s Gospel. Luke relates them to us because he wants us to see that Jesus’ passion is a manifestation of our Lord’s greatest mercy and love for the world. How do you treat others when you are having a bad day? What helps you to rise above your own concerns to address the needs of others? Which of the above interventions of Jesus strikes you as particularly meaningful and why? Who is willing to die for you? For whom are you willing to die? As you go through this Holy Week, how can you make time to bring your needs to the Lord and receive His ministry of mercy? Who needs to experience the mercy of Jesus through you this week?
From: www.highdesertcatholic.org
