After six hours of hanging from the cross, at three o'clock, the time of the sacrificing of the pascal lamb, Jesus, the Lamb of God, cried out "Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit. It is finished." And bowing his head he gave himself to the Father, the sacrifice of his life, the perfect sacrifice of obedience and love so that we may be saved. It was business as usual in Jerusalem. It was business as usual for the soldiers who returned to their barracks. But to those who followed him even to the end, must now bury him with haste, for the Sabbath was near. In their love for him, they did not know that though it was Friday, Sunday was to come. They did not remember that he said that he would rise again. Rolling the stone over the entrance of the tomb seemed a finality. He will reveal more to those who believe. In the Friday's of our lives, we must never lose faith in the Sunday to come.
While on the cross for six hours, the pain of being crucified is felt in every fiber of Jesus lacerated body. But he doesn't think of himself. He thinks of others. He forgives those who falsely accused him and those who crucified him. He extended forgives to one of the thieves crucified with him, because of the latter's repentance and request. He provided for his mother and for his beloved disciple and for us. He offered his sufferings to the Father, whom he knew loved him and was there with him. He thought of you and of me as he gave his life for our sakes, so that we may be able to be free from the bondage of sin and share in his life. Greater love has no one but to lay down his life for his others. How do we respond to such great love?
When Jesus finally arrives at the place of execution, the soldiers roughly ripped his stained, tattered, outer garment, renewing the flow of blood from his scourged body. They quickly nailed his hands and feet to the cross, opening more wounds in his lacerated body. What new pain Jesus must have experienced at that moment with muscles and nerves being shattered! They raise the cross and drop it into the prepared hole. The jolt exasperated anew the pain throughout Jesus' body. Why did he allow himself to suffer so much? Was it because of the extent of sin from Adam until the end of the world? It was also for my many sins, which needed to be brought to the fire of purification, so that I might become righteous again. Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for a friend.
The decision has been finalized, Jesus, though innocent, was condemned to death by crucifixion. Mob rule won over truth and rationality. Weakened from lack of food or drink from the night before, from a sleepless night, from scourging and crowning with thorns, now Jesus is forced to carry the cross of execution to the place outside the walls. Each step was painful under the weight of the cross. No wonder he fell three times on the journey. The crowd that shouted, "Crucify him" continued to line the narrow streets, shouting mockery upon mockery, even though he was going to give his life for their salvation. The only relief or comfort he experienced was from the silent meeting with his mother, Mary, after his fall, from a woman that wiped his faced from the sweat and blood, and from a stranger who was forced to help carry his cross. Otherwise, he was alone in his sufferings for our sakes. What character would we have been in the passion narrative?
If it was not enough to scourge Jesus beyond the norm, the soldiers tortured him more. The accusation against him was he claimed to be a king. So they weaved a crown made from thorn branches, forced it upon his head, causing more bleeding and pain. Then they mocked him by putting a reed in his hand and pretending to do him homage. Jesus could easily have destroyed each. He remained silent as he fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah. If the scourging was for the sins of the flesh. The crowning was for our sins of the mind. In his physical weakness he was bullied and abused. What was Jesus' thinking during this ordeal? "If you only knew who it is that you are abusing." When we sin, if we only remember whom we are abusing.
The passion of Jesus intensified when he was scourged by the Roman Soldiers. They took delight in tearing into the body of their prisoners. More so for Jesus. He was accused as a king and insurrectionist. The more Jesus remained silent, the more they were determined to break his spirit and his body. They showed no mercy to their prisoner. He bore our sins upon him, especially the sins of the flesh. He gave his body up to torture, so that we may be freed and healed. Isaiah prophesied many centuries before: "He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed." (Isaiah 53:5) Lord, how can I respond to your substitution for me? I can't, except to choose not to sin again in the flesh. Lord, have mercy.
The passion of Christ continued through the night of his arrest. After condemning him, he was thrown into a cell hole for the rest of the night. No food, no water, no place to rest. Only silence and darkness. What did Jesus do during those hours of imprisonment? I think he continued his prayer started in the Garden. He prayed for strength to endure what was ahead of him, death by crucifixion. He didn't have to endure any of this. He chose to be mistreated and judged, though innocent, for our sake, because of his great love. Can we choose to spend some time with Jesus in silence to comfort him, not focusing on ourselves but on him? Lord, thank you for your love.
The suffering that Jesus, the God/Man, endured in his pre-decided trial was both to his divinity and to his humanity. The decision that he should die was made before the trial. The trial was an excuse to find something substantive the Sanhedrin could justify their pre-decision. When Jesus finally breaks his silence and acknowledge the truth of who he is as the Son who became Man and will return to the Father, he was accused of blasphemy. They refused to accept his true identity. For to do so, they would have to acknowledge their sin in rejecting him as the Messiah. For speaking the truth, he was buffeted and spat upon. Our suffering for speaking the truth is nothing in comparison to Jesus'. Speak and suffer for the truth we must, if we wish to remain at one with the Lord.
Jesus had warned Peter of the temptation to deny him. This Peter rejected. Now, during the trial before the High Priest, Peter failed in his commitment to the Master. He denied his three times to save his own life. Jesus looked at Peter with such tender mercy and forgiveness at that moment. Peter wept over his weakness. What a poignant moment that was. How often each of us have promised God never to sin again, but then failed in our resolve for selfish motives. No matter the graces God gives us, we fall into sin. Does Jesus look at us at those moments with the same eyes of compassion and forgiveness? Do we weep for our sins and start again? Jesus, thank you for your eyes of mercy and not of judgment at those moments.
Jesus' passion continues as he sees his disciples desert him at the moment of his arrest. Even though he knew they would under the fear of persecution and imprisonment, it still pained Jesus to be left alone. As the soldiers led him away bound, they led him to the high priest, Ananias. He was mocked and buffeted, falsely accused and threatened. Still he said nothing. He endured all for our sakes. He knew he was innocent. Silence was his defense. How often we seek to defend ourselves, rather than embrace the verbal torments for our own sins! Jesus, help me to share in your passion by enduring the false accusations or judgments in silence, knowing the truth.
That Judas rejected the grace to change his mind caused Jesus pain. But when he identifies Jesus with a kiss this only magnified the betrayal. Jesus could have easily stopped Judas from this act. But he chose to suffer this indignity from one who was one time a disciple/friend. How often we act similarly, when we choose to sin grievously. Is this not also a betrayal kiss to one who has given his life for us? Jesus suffers the same way as he did with Judas's kiss. Even though Judas later regretted his betrayal, instead of repentance he chose despair. After we have sinned against Jesus, hopefully his mercy will move us to repentance and conversion of heart. Jesus awaits us with open arms.
As Jesus goes with the Apostles after the Last Supper to the Garden of Olives to pray, his awareness of the upcoming passion intensifies. He felt the need to pray to the Father for the strength he needed to endure the crucifixion. He was tempted at the beginning of his ministry as the Messiah. Now, I suspect he was tempted again, not to follow through with his decision. The first temptations dealt with his relationship to the Father. The temptation in the Garden was to convince Jesus his suffering and death will mean nothing to millions of people. The mental struggle of Jesus with the thought of the pain and suffering in crucifixion was so intense that, we are told, he sweated drops of blood. As he remained faithful to the Father in the first temptations. so he remained committed to the will of the Father in what laid ahead for him for our sake. "Not my will, but yours be done." We will never suffer like Jesus did, but we can in our sufferings surrender to the will of the Father.
Homily
Fifth Sunday of Lent Year B
Reading
1: The theme of Covenant continues In the first reading of each Sunday in
Lent. First Sunday, we heard the covenant God made with Noah and the sign was
the rainbow. Second Sunday, it was the covenant with Abraham and the sin was
circumcision and the need to trust in the Lord. Third Sunday, it was the
covenant with Moses and the Israelites and the sign was obedience to the Ten
Commandments. Fourth Sunday, because the Chosen People continually broke the
covenant, adding infidelity to infidelity, they experienced exile from the
Promised Land for seventy years. A savior, Cyrus, would restore them to the
land so they could rebuild the destroyed Temple.
Today,
Jeremiah prophecies that God will make a new and final covenant, a covenant of
the heart, a covenant of love. The Law of the Mosaic Covenant was external
relationship with God. The Law of the New Covenant will be internalized,
written on their hearts. The sign of
this New Covenant was the forgiveness of sins. God no longer remembering them. The
response to God’s faithful love is to love in return, not out of obligation or
just externally but by living in a right relationship that brings intimacy and
union with God.
That
prophesy of Jeremiah was fulfilled at the Last Supper and on the Cross. Do we
not hear this promised renewed when the chalice of wine in consecrated? “The is
the Blood of the New and eternal Covenant, which will be poured out for you and
for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
We
personally entered into that covenant the day we were baptized. We experience
the grace of our covenant when we celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation,
where the words of God are fulfilled: “I will forgive their evil doings and
remember their sins no more.” We renew our covenant each time we celebrate
Eucharist, as we do today.
Gospel:
The focus of the First Sunday of Lent was the Temptations Jesus experienced at
the beginning of his ministry. The Second Sunday, we reflected on the scene of
the Transfiguration. The Third Sunday, it was the cleansing of the Temple by
Jesus. Last Sunday, we heard that as Moses was lifted up, so the Son of Man
will draw all to himself when he is lifted up.
Today,
Jesus returns to that reality. “Once I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw
all to myself.” His focus is on the central theme of our Lenten journey, the
death and resurrection of Jesus as Lord and Savior. He came to the earth to
bring humanity back to God.
Last
Sunday, the theme of the Gospel was faith in Jesus leads to salvation and
eternal life. Even the beginning statement of Jesus points to his upcoming
suffering and death. “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
“Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it does not bear much
fruit.”
The
salvation Jesus brings about requires a response from us. That response is to
follow him as a disciple in the service of others. How? We do this by laying
down our life for others, by surrendering it to Jesus, so that others may see
the power of selfless love.
Reading
2: Each of the second readings in the past four Sundays has focused us on
Jesus’ death and resurrection. First Sunday, we have been saved in the waters
of baptism. The Second Sunday, we saw that even though God spared Abraham’s
son, he did not spare his own Son but handed him over to death because of his
great love for us. The Third Sunday, Jesus’ death and resurrection seem like
foolishness to the Jews and weakness to the Greeks, but in truth they show the
strength and power of God. Last Sunday, we heard that God, rich in mercy, saved
us through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Today,
we heard that Jesus out of love for us and the Father gave his life for ours.
In his humanity he cried to the Father to spare him, but at the same time out
of love and obedience he embraced the wood of the cross to be an example to us.
In our trials we cry out to the Lord, but in obedience we are called to embrace
them so that through them we can be perfected and brought into the full life of
God.
Having confronted Judas at the Last Supper, Jesus confronted Peter for his upcoming denial. Peter was closer to Jesus, one of his inner circle. As Jesus gave Judas a chance to change his mind, so the Lord gave Peter a forewarning of what he will experience at his arrest. Jesus loved Peter as he loved Judas. Each received grace to overcome their time of temptation. Each failed. Jesus' heart must have been heavy with a sense of betrayal after all he had done and shown each of them. But we are no different. Jesus has loved us beyond measure. Still, we reject the grace he gives us not to sin. Each sin is a betrayal and denial of who he is and all he has done for us. Yet, his love does not change, even though we waver.
Reflection on the Scriptures Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel B Glorification of the Father
By spiritaflame 1:18 PMFifth Sunday of Lent: Gospel B
Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
· How strong of a desire do we have to see Jesus? What are we doing to make that desire known to Jesus?
· For Jesus, his glory would be made known through his death and resurrection. The cross, though an instrument of human cruelty, would be the throne of glory for Jesus.
Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
· Where is this mystery of death and life happening in your spiritual life? What area of sin needs to die so that new life may come? What are we afraid to give up in order to live?
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.
· As you reflect on these words, what is the response welling up in your heart? What is your struggle?
I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name."
· By doing the will of the Father even to the death of the cross, Jesus glorified the name of the Father. How are you called to glorify God’s name?
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."
· What are the two times have we already seen where God has glorified Jesus? His Baptism and his Transfiguration. What will be the next time the Father will glorify Jesus?
The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come for my sake but for yours.
· This was another confirmation of who Jesus was and what he was doing was of God.
Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.
· Spend some time viewing the crucified Jesus. Through this sign of love he seeks to draw you closer in relationship with him. Listen to him as he speaks to you from this pulpit and altar.
· What is your response? If you are keeping a journal, write your response in it.
· The season of Lent is drawing to an end? Are we still persevering in our commitments to turn away from sin and to return to God?
Jesus began his passion during the Last Supper. First, he washed the feet of the disciples as a servant. Then, he confronted Judas with the truth of his betrayal, giving him a chance not to go through with it. It pained Jesus to know that one of his closest disciple would betray his love and friendship for monetary gain. By dipping the piece of bread in the sauce and giving it to one at table was a sign of love. It both pained and saddened Jesus when Judas took, ate and left to seal his decision. How often does God out of love give us the grace not to give into the temptation that would separate us from him and we still sin? The rejection of love is a terrible wound. We know what that feels like humanly. What must it felt by Jesus, who is both God and Man?
We are told that God so loved us that he sent his Son to redeem us through his passion and death by crucifixion. His passion begins with his Last meal with his disciples. Washing the feet of the twelve was a preparation for what he would do on the cross. Though he was Lord and Master, he humbled himself by becoming a servant, washing the feet of those who were under him. As the suffering servant of God, prophesied by Isaiah, Jesus would humbly embrace crucifixion, so that we would not have to endure eternal damnation and alienation from God. By his sacred blood he washed us from the stains of our sins. He freely chose to wash the feet of his disciples out of love. He freely chose to endure the debasement of crucifixion out of love. How can we imitate Jesus, the servant, in our life?
One of the ways we show our love for God is to avoid sin as much as possible. This can only be done with his grace, of course. But it takes an intentional decision on our part to recognize the temptation and to choose to love God rather than to satisfy ourselves. Like Jesus has shown us, we keep our eyes on the Father and remember his love for us. That is what it means to love God with our whole being. Every part of our being is given to the praise, honor and service of God. It is not the fear of punishment that motivates us, but the love for the God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. This is not easy. We may fall short at times, like Peter. But if God's love for us is important, we will learn how to grow in our choice to love him rather than sin.
Lent is a time to heed the call of God to love him with our whole being. This seems impossible at first glance. It is if we depend on our own strength of will alone. But if we depend on the grace of God, all things are possible. God does not ask the impossible from us. This grace of God is there, if we ask for it and respond to it. The difference, in a sense, between the saint and the sinner is the former makes and acts on the choice to love God totally, while the latter chooses to love self or other things more than God. So basically, it comes down to choice. Adam and Eve could choose to love and be obedient to God or to choose to serve their own purposes. So, ask God for the grace and then make the choice to love God with your whole being. The devil wants us to think it is impossible, but it isn't. But it takes practice and commitment.
The final lesson we learn from Jesus' Passion and death is his perseverance from the agony of the Garden to his death on the cross. At any time, he could have said, "I've done enough." But he chose to endure until the end every suffering and pain he received. So often, we want to stop, rather than persevere until the end. At those moments we need to enter into the sufferings of Jesus, asking him for the strength to go on. One of the temptations of the Evil One is to have us stop. I think one of the pains of Jesus in the Garden was this effort of Satan, telling Jesus that his suffering will be in vain for countless of people. Jesus responded by praying to the Father, "Not my will, but yours be done." Many of the saints had this experience in their sufferings. Their torturer would say, "If you renounce your God, I will stop the torture." They chose to persevere even until death, without giving in to the temptation. Lord, give me the grace of perseverance in all my trials.
As we continue to reflect on the death of Jesus, we recognize and respond to his great love. As he said: "Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friend." It is not only through his death on our behalf that he shows us his love, but the manner of death by crucifixion, shows the depth of his love for us. Paul makes it even clearer. Jesus died for us when we were alienated from him. He gave his physical life that we might have eternal life. Do we have the same type of love for others? Striving to imitate Jesus' love is difficult. None of us will be crucified for another person. But we can choose to forget about ourselves and truly be loving to others, especially those who have hurt us or estranged from us. Our love does not depend on them, but on our choice, in response to God's love for us.
