The Passion of Christ: Questions and Lessons
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
(15/4/2022)ISAIAH 52:13-53:12; PSALM 31; HEBREWS 4:14-16, 5:7-9; JOHN 18:1-19:42
In today’s reflection we shall be concerned with some basic questions and lessons:
Why is it called Good Friday? What is good about Good Friday? Some say Good Friday is “good” in that it is holy, or that the phrase is a corruption of “God’s Friday”. Thus, the Church meant to say God’s Friday not Good Friday. On the contrary, it is called Good Friday because it led to the Resurrection of Jesus, his victory over death and sin and the celebration of Easter, the very summit of Christian celebrations.
God permits evil in order to draw forth some greater good. In the Exsultet the cantor sings, ‘O happy fault,. . . which gained for us so great a Redeemer!’ It is a fault, but a happy one. The event was bad as in a (Bad Friday); but it brought about something good, so much so that it wiped away the tears of his death. And so, the Bible asked, “…O death, where is thy victory?” (1Cor.15:55). Christ’s death was the death of death. Christ was victorious over death. And so, the Friday before his resurrection was a good Friday. Genesis 50:20 says, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…”. Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Why is there no mass today? Today is the only day mass is not celebrated in the Catholic Church as the Church mourns the death of our Savior in fasting and prayer. Instead of the mass the Church celebrates the Lord’s passion.. This celebration begins with a silent procession to the sanctuary, and ends with a silent movement to the Sacristy. The silence reminds us of the importance of day, the painful death and the humiliation and suffering of Jesus Christ. No Mass, as we re-live the emotions of this great lost. (Na who dey alive, dey say mass).
How do we relive these emotions? This question brings us to the three parts of today’s liturgy. We relive this lost in the following ways; The Liturgy of the Word (Passion narrative and prayers of intercession) 2. The Veneration of the Cross 3. The service of Holy Communion.
What others lessons can we learn from this day?
If we trust in the Lord; we shall not be put to shame: Isaiah in our first reading speaks of the Suffering Servant, who suffered and died for our sake. This suffering servant is Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53:4-5, the servant suffers because of “our” iniquities, “our” sickness, but by His wounds we were healed. Thus, God vindicated him and gave him a name above every name. So that at the mention of that name every kneel must bow (Phil.2:9). God vindicated him because though he was God he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. Again, He trusted in the Lord amidst suffering and pains. How many of us can still trust in the midst of pains and suffering? Like the Psalmist of today let us learn to say; “In you, O Lord, I take refuge. Let me never be put to shame. In your justice, set me free, Into your hands I commend my spirit”. Beloved, do not be discouraged because of the trials you are going through. Commit your dealings to the Lord and He shall save you.
Know who you are and function in that capacity: The passion narrative we just read was taken from St John’s gospel; it is different from the narrative we read on Palm Sunday because it focuses more on the kingship of Jesus. This kingship has been an argument all along. When he was born Herod wanted to kill him because he heard a king has been born (Matt.2:16). Yet as an adult he kept on telling them in John 18:36, I paraphrase “calm down; calm down my kingship is not of this wolrd” Yet they wouldn’t listen. It was for that same reason he was killed (Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews). Be careful with kingship and tittles of this world. The reason they attack you at birth is destiny; they will still come after you even when you have grown; do not be afraid, fulfill your destiny. Jesus said to him “for this I was born….” (John 18:37). Herod and Pilate are no longer on the throne but Jesus is still on the throne.
“It is finished!“ (John 19:30) Tetelestai is in the perfect tense in Greek. The perfect tense speaks of an action which has been completed in the past with results continuing into the present. It’s different from the simple tenses which consist of the present, the past, and the future. The perfect tenses are the present perfect, the past perfect, and the future perfect. When Jesus cried out “It is finished,” he meant It was finished in the past, it is still finished in the present, and it will remain finished in the future. That is why the sacrifice of the Mass we offer is not a repetition but a reenactment. If you need water you can dig a bole hole when you want to drink water just fetched from the Bole hole you don’t have to dig a new one every time you want to drink water. Heb 10:12 says Christ, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God. So, the Mass is one and the same sacrifice with that of Jesus on the cross. Again, “it is finished”, Jesus did not say, “I am finished,” for that would imply that he died defeated and exhausted. Rather, he cried out “It is finished,” meaning “I successfully completed the work I came to do.” By his power you too will complete your task here on earth; as for that sickness, and sorrow it is finished, do not say “I am finished”.
They mocked him:27:42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself.” The cross is a symbol of mockery; a symbol of violence and peace, lies and truth, hatred and love. You may be in a situation where your ideas and gifts work for others but do not work for you; do not be discouraged, do not worry when they mock you; he who laughs last, laughs best. Micah 7:8 says; rejoice not over me, oh my enemy for if I fall I shall arise, when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be my light. Three days later Jesus rose.
Judas had betrayed Jesus yet was sitting on the same dining table with him. Your worst enemy is always closer than you’ve ever imagined. Matt.10:36 your worst enemies are the members of your own family.
The same crowd that sang ‘Hosanna” were screaming “Crucify Him!” (Don’t get all excited at the praises of men. It takes only a moment for a hero to become a villain).
Even on the cross, He was inviting a thief into Paradise. He did the first canonization. Do not take vengeance; don’t mark people’s guilt, don’t hate because you are hated, in your worst moments give people hope. He is the Wounded Healer.
Peter, one of Christ’s closest disciples, denied Him three times! (Until hard times come, you may not know your close friends.)
EXTRACT
The same people who had once been beneficiaries of Christ’s miracles, opted for the hardened criminal, Barabbas, instead of Him. (In life, people have short memory. Not everyone will remember the good we do/did for them. However, we still should stay good!).
The soldiers who mocked, flogged and spat on Christ had no idea who He really was. (Respect people especially if you don’t know who they are. Some people come our way with sacred keys to open some sacred doors in our lives!)
Jesus was crucified with two other thieves… and it looked like three thieves on a cross. (Don’t judge. Among convicts are victims of circumstances. Not every pregnant unmarried woman fornicated. Not everyone hanging on some sort of a cross is a criminal!)
Friday was His crucifixion. Sunday was His resurrection. (If only we knew our good days were not far from the bad ones, we would have endured a little more. Be patient. Your Sunday is coming!!!)
Upon every false accusation Jesus led the world to salvation. The world might turn against you turn around and lead them.
God Bless you!
