On Palm Sunday we listened to the Passion reading from one of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark or Luke) and today we hear the Passion according to John. The Church places such emphasis on the Passion of Christ that it desires us to hear two versions of it every year. Maybe, with some justification, the Church was sceptical that all Catholics would make it to all the ceremonies and so decided to maximise the possibilities of getting to hear the story at least once! In any event, the story of the last days of Jesus' life is pivotal to the Christian faith.
What they show is that Jesus knew that the Jewish authorities wanted to kill him and yet he stayed in Jerusalem anyway; with that knowledge he chose to communicate to his disciples the meaning of his death; this meaning was to be perpetuated and re-lived by obeying his instructions at the Last Supper; as the innocent Lamb of God he refused to defend himself in the presence of his accusers who had to testify falsely; despite his innocence he was unjustly convicted by the Romans and sentenced to death; this death took the form of crucifixion between two other criminals; Jesus truly died and was placed in a tomb; when his disciples came to the tomb on Easter morning it was empty.
Later, a writer summed up the significance of the Passion in these words: "In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having be made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek." (Heb 5: 7-10) The execution on the Cross was not seen as a futile death of a slave or criminal rather: "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, 'he sat down at the right hand of God' and since then has been waiting 'until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.' For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." (Heb 10: 12-14)
What does this mean for us today?: "Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he has openeed for us throught he curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb 10: 19-25)
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