Mk. 14:1-15:47
Today we commemorate the Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday, by which we enter into the Holy Week. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey as a price of peace. However, the Jewish religious leaders consider his presence a threat to the Jewish nation and plot to kill him. Caiaphas, the high priest, says: “Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” (Jn. 11: 50) Jesus allows himself to be handed over to his predators. The Markan passion narrative that we mediate today presents the humble acceptance of all the mental and the physical suffering, the crucifixion and the death on the cross by Jesus. He surrendered himself entirely to his Father’s Will. He carries the burden of human sin and guilt and becomes the paschal lamb.
The religious leaders, Pilate, his disciples, soldiers, and people of Israel all give him severe mental and physical pain. Yet he remained serene as Isaiah Writes about him: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” (Is. 53: 7) His humble acceptance of the Father’s Will transformed everything. The paschal lamb who carried the burden of human sin offered a sacrifice acceptable to the Father. A human being who was died to sin changes the destiny of the entire sinful humanity by his absolute obedience to the Father’s Will.
It is good to reflect on the profession of faith by the centurion in the Markan gospel when he dies on the cross; “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mk. 15: 39) Centurion might have witnessed many trials in his military service, especially the trials of criminals. Jesus too died on the cross helplessly. After having witnessed Jesus’ trial and persecution on the cross, the centurion proclaims that he is the Son of God. If he would have come out of the cross and destroyed his persecutors, then the entire crowd would have agreed to the fact that he is the Son of God. Nothing of that sort happens. Anyhow, Jesus did not die like other criminals cursing God and persecutors; rather each gesture of him on the way of the cross-reflected the redemptive dimension of his mission and His humble acceptance of the Father’s will.
He knew for sure that nothing would happen in his life without his Father’s knowledge, and there would be a moment in which His Father would entirely abandon him. Therefore, at that juncture, he becomes the cry of the sinful humanity: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”(Mk. 15: 34) but he knew that he was not abandoned by his Father forever. He could bring to his mind what is written about him through the psalmist: “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” (Ps. 16: 10) Thus, he becomes the hope of the new humanity: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Lk. 23:46) As we pass through these days of Holy Week, let us reflect and see our attitude towards God’s will in our life? Did we able to accept Fathers will, trusting in his unfailing providence? Let us seek this grace from Jesus that we may live our Christian vocation with humble acceptance and complete trust in our Father’s Will.