Palm Sunday has arrived, Holy Week begins as we conclude our journey of lent with a more detailed look at Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, Jesus' journey to Calvary.
As the Passion of Christ is prayed around the world, people will gather, congregations will unite and all will be moved by the passion of Christ proclaimed, as the past echoes forth into the present, as history is re lived so that that those in the present might have life.
In the midst of the passion we will encounter many characters:
Judas the betrayer makes himself known also as the one who laments his betrayal; his tears are filled with despair and he betrays life by betraying mercy. Peter the rock on whom the church is built (Mt 16:18) reveals himself as a denier who is also a penitent, one who knows sorrow; he sheds tears filled with hope and clings to the prospect of mercy that the Christ reveals.
The other disciples reveal themselves as followers who abandon their leader; they scatter when their leader is fallen, lacking the courage to take a stand, in need of strength that will come from the shepherd's hand.
The high priest and the pharisees reveal themselves as conspirators; they are religious leaders who have forgotten their call to be shepherds and they lead the flock a stray; they are the false prophets who take advantage of the faithful and pull them along by the string of emotion, leaving them empty and void of truth. Pilate is revealed as one who procrastinates in the presence of truth; he is too cowardly to choose sides and lets innocent blood stain his clean hands.
The crowd reveal themselves as fanatically inspired seeking blood; they have abandoned reason and are pulled along by the thread of emotion that is easily manipulated and always fleeting; they put their faith in feelings yelling "crucify!" "crucify!" and abandon truth revealed in Christ, but will be awakened by the cross. Barabbas reveals himself as one who is guilty, he reaps what he did not sow, owing his life to the one who gives his own.
Mary, the mother of Christ, and the women stand fast; they remain faithful followers through it all; they persevere to the cross, lending their support all along calvary, seeking to be true disciples no matter the cost.
The Passion of Christ reveals the true identity of many but it especially reveals the true identity of Christ: Jesus shows himself as one who though innocent suffers punishment, he embraces death to bring life; he takes a chance to give so that we might receive. He proves us all to be liars. For none of us, though we call our selves lovers, have ever loved as much. His crucified face is given for all to see, not as condemnation or judgment, but as hope for the future. In his face wee see just what love can do, what love can endure, how love to the end transforms. In his crucified flesh our loves is purified, and we are encouraged to love more.
As we pray the passion we must remember that it begins with chapter 26 verse 1: when Jesus had finished all his teachings that is when all the words have been said, it was now time for action as Jesus says, "now it is time for the son of man to be crucified."
It is action in adversity that reveals true character. Jesus is a man of his words, who silently fulfills what love demands.
May the passion of Christ strengthen us to let words fall silent and our actions remain crucified.
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