PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION
(Isaiah 50: 4-7; Philippians 2: 6-11; Mark 14:1-15:47)
Each of the evangelists has their own perspective on the
passion of Jesus. Luke sees Jesus spreading his goodness everywhere. John has
him reigning over the world from the cross. Mark emphasizes Jesus suffering not
only physical but also mental torture. In Mark Jesus dies completely isolated
from his people, from his disciples, apparently from his Father, God. Let us
look a little at the rejections that Jesus experiences and ask what they teach
us.
In Gethsemane Jesus asks his closest disciples to watch with
him. But they fall asleep. Much worse, one of the twelve betrays Jesus, and
they all flee from him. Jesus is so absorbed in anguish that he fails to respond
both to Judas's kiss and to the misbegotten attempt to defend him with a sword.
It is not difficult to imagine how Jesus feels when he marches away with his
captors: offended, disappointed, depressed.
Jesus cannot expect justice from his Jewish judges. They do
the trial at night as if they want to hide the truth. They bring false
witnesses who slander him. The verdict ruling is unanimous: he has to die. They
add insult to pity when they spit on him, slap him, and ridicule him for being
a false prophet. But he is by no means a false prophet. He has prophesied that
he would undergo such brutal treatment.
The Roman trial does not go any better for Jesus. Pilate
treats Jesus as if he were an animal. He hands him over to executioners to
please the Jews. The soldiers then abuse him with scourges and taunts.
Of course, the worst suffering comes with crucifixion. Three
groups of people come to mock Jesus: the passers-by, the high priests, and the
two other men who are being crucified. No disciple approaches to comfort him while
he experiences extreme distress. Finally he can't take it anymore. He cries,
"My God, why have you abandoned me?" and dies. Only then does God
act. He rips the temple veil in two rendering the place useless. The Roman
officer gives the final human judgment when he says of Jesus: "Truly this
man was the Son of God."
It seems that God has provided us with this version of
passion to help us when we feel abandoned and depressed. It can be after the
death of a child or the betrayal of one’s spouse. We don't know how we are
going to continue. Then we should think of Jesus in this Gospel of Mark. He
endures everything until he breathes his last breath. Then he discovers that his Father's God has
been close by throughout his ordeal ready to redeem him. We can count on the
same God because through Jesus Christ he is our Father too.
