Crucify him! Crucify him!
This Holy Week began with us shouting these words during the Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. As a child, I remember hearing the congregation yelling those words and thinking, we should not be doing this! Jesus is a good guy. This is all wrong.
Amen, Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.
The early days of this week, we heard the story of Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus. We, too, wrestle with the story of this man. Why would a close disciple of Jesus, one who heard his words and saw his miracles, do such a terrible thing?
Take it; this is my body.
Today, Holy Thursday, we remember the Last Supper, when Jesus offered us the Eucharist, food for the journey of life. Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem to commemorate the Passover, the last meal of the Hebrews in Egypt before God freed them from slavery. Both the Last Supper and the Passover were tense moments for those present at those simple meals of unleavened bread, wine and lamb. Life was going to get very complicated for everyone involved.
You are not of this man’s disciples, are you?
Tomorrow, Good Friday, recalls the tragic day of Jesus’ death, an innocent man executed for drummed up political reasons. He is abandoned by almost everyone, including Peter, one of his closest disciples. A few women followers, including Mary, stood under that cross.
Jesus was truly a part of who we are. At his Incarnation, he became “flesh and dwelt among us.” He grew up in a family, had close friends, healed the sick and offered many a new way of life, a new way of being human. We are not to be people of violence or retribution. We are compelled to forgive, to love and to embrace each other, especially our enemies. Sadly, it took his death on a cross to reveal to us the deep reality of this call.
They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.
The cross is really the Glorification of God. That glorification is the Resurrection where Christ triumphs over death. As we travel through the journey of life with its betrayal, violence, anger, fear and injustice, we need the continuing love and mercy of God as manifested in the Resurrection to transform us into the People of God.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen; to Galilee he goes before you.
Happy Easter!
Sincerely,
John D. Cunningham, S.J.
Vice President for Mission and Identity
