Jesus, the Obedient Son, the Source of Forgiveness

Luke 22:14—23:56

THE LAST SUPPER

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.

I put myself in Jesus’ place as his plans for his final evening with friends went totally awry. Ha this ever happened to me? How did I react?

What does it mean to me that the very institution of the Eucharist is re-enacted at each and every Mass?

JESUS PRAYS AT THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Have I ever relied on the comfort of friends at a stressful time in my life? How did it go?

Have I ever failed to be there for someone who needed my understanding?

JESUS ARRESTED

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

Have I ever been misunderstood, publicly shamed or embarrassed, or worse, been blamed for something I did not do?

PETER DISOWNS JESUS

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Has fear of shame, fear of losing reputation with my friends or colleagues caused me to lie about another to protect myself?

Have otherwise upright institutions lied to protect their country, church, or ethnic affinity? What has been the result?

THE “TRIAL” OF JESUS

The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him. At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.” Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

How have I reacted in the face of anger or hatred or when a bunch of people turned on me, made fun of me, or worse? Was I silent and dignified, paralyzed by fear and shame, belligerent and accusatory, or did I react in another way?

THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS

As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

How hard has it been for me to forgive someone who has hurt me or someone I love?

Do I really believe I will see Jesus in my next life?

THE DEATH OF JESUS

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

How hard is it to surrender my will to that of God’s, even in small things, much less suffering and death?

THE BURIAL OF JESUS

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

What in my life holds me entombed?

Read a commentary for reading the passion narratives (generally) >>

Read additional commentaries on the passion narrative in Luke's gospel >>

Music Meditations

Jesus, Remember Me—Taize
Stay With Me Here—Fernando Ortega
Pie Jesus—Andrew Lloyd Webber, sung by Sarah Brightman
Give Me Jesus—sung by Fernando Ortega

Opening Prayer

Lord, how often I have whined and cried about the trials and sorrows of my life. How often I have raged at the unfairness of my life or people in it. How often I have failed to summon up deep gratitude for my very existence, and for those who have brighten my days. How often I have failed to forgive those who have hurt or disappointed me. How often I have not been connected to you deeply enough through prayer. Lord, help me to see in the last days of Jesus the model for gratitude, forgiveness and prayer. Help me to be like Him.

Companions for the Journey

This is a short writing from one of the Christian or non-Christian witnesses of our tradition—a person who embodies the theme of the gospel we are studying today.

This is from “First Impressions” 2010, by Jude Siciliano, O.P.:

As we listen to the Passion today we might hear something of ourselves in the narrative. There is a hint in the Passion of the still-unfinished formation of the disciples. Immediately after the blessing of the bread and cup, with Jesus’ solemn injunction to the disciples, “do this in memory of me,” Jesus predicts that one of them will betray him. Luke tells us they debated among themselves who could do such a thing. There is a touch of irony here because the reader, well aware of what’s ahead for the disciples, might intrude on their debate and say, “Anyone of you is possible of betrayal. Soon you will all abandon Jesus.”

Luke moves quickly to the disciples’ failure to perceive what Jesus has been teaching them about what lies ahead. They begin an argument about who among them is the greatest. As we say in baseball lingo, “They are out in left field.” They have completely missed the point of all Jesus has been saying about what following him requires.

Jesus is about to go to his death and those he has been training to carry-on when he leaves are as dense as when they first took up with him back in Galilee. A great sign of his compassion and patience is that he doesn’t throw up his hands, walk out and try, at the last minute, to patch together more suitable candidates for disciples. Instead, one more time he commences to teach them that true greatness is to be found in serving others. Nor does Jesus give up on us when we fail to respond to opportunities to act as his disciples.

Jesus then tells Peter that he will deny him. Peter protests, but Jesus’ prediction will prove true. Though Jesus foresees Peter’s failure, he predicts Peter will eventually prove himself a disciple when he says, “once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” The gospel is a story of second chances (and third and fourth ones as well!). Peter will be forgiven for acting in fear and denying Jesus—and so are we.

If we have followed Jesus and his disciples through Luke’s gospel we know we have been hearing a story, not of human triumph over adversity; not of heroic actions in the face of insurmountable odds, but of humans found frail and lacking comprehension. Still, without heroic traits of their own, they continue to follow and be drawn to Christ, even if for the wrong goals and with less-than-total commitment. The rest of the Passion narrative will continue to reveal the disciples’ failure to understand who Jesus is and what he is asking of them.

Unlike the recent Winter Olympics, this is not an account of athletes possessing great natural abilities and, with enormous discipline, winning gold medals. No, this is the gospel and more a story of God’s achievement amid very limited humans. Grace trumps human frailty and draws strength and heroism where there were weakness and betrayal. When the story ends who is the winner? God’s grace is—and therefore so are we!

The characters in the rest of the Passion narrative fall far short as well. The religious leaders try Jesus and find him guilty. They then bring him to Pilate and he sends Jesus to Herod who, with his soldiers, mistreat him. Then the chief priests and the rulers of the people all call for Pilate to crucify Jesus. So continues the story of the human response to Jesus as he faces his passion. The crowds also join their voices to that of the religious leaders calling for Jesus’ crucifixion.

This week what is still sinful, incomplete, or weak in us is gathered up by Jesus at his cross. Jesus continues to show compassion even on the way to his execution as he acknowledges the grieving women. As he is dying he attends to the thief on the cross next to him and promises him paradise. Right up to the end Jesus highlights those who would benefit by his surrender to God’s will—the neglected and those rejected and cast out by society.

Not all the religious leaders turn against Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Council whom Luke describes as a “virtuous and righteous man,” requests and receives Jesus’ body and places it in a tomb. Luke again mentions the presence of women; they follow Jesus’ body to see the tomb where it is laid. Our attention is now drawn to the tomb and the events that are about to take place there.

Luke’s Passion reveals how much Jesus has lost—his followers and friends have abandoned or betrayed him; his life’s project has collapsed into humiliation and defeat. As we hear the story today we are deeply moved by his loss and our heart goes out to him. But Luke is also inviting anyone of us who have our own losses through the death of loved ones; the dramatic change of life because of job loss or health failure; an unfulfilled dream; the disintegration of our family; the arrest of our child etc.—to identify with Jesus.

It’s clear from the Passion account that Jesus is no stranger to loss and suffering. As we follow the women to his tomb, we also know that he has accompanied us to our own tombs; the places where we have known death and defeat. We also know where this story is going. The tomb is not Jesus’ end, we are about to be surprised by resurrection. Nor is the tomb our end as we hope for new life in the very places we have experienced death. As the television announcers advise us, “Stay tuned for what’s coming next.”

Luke portrays Jesus as an innocent martyr. He has Pilate declare Jesus’ innocence three times. The thief dying at his side makes the same pronouncement. We know Jesus’ suffering continues beyond the Passion account. Perhaps we will hear the story of innocence persecuted and ask: where in our world today are people victimized and the poor burdened by heavy crosses with no modern Simon of Cyrene to help?

Despite his unjust treatment Jesus continues to offer forgiveness right up until his death. He died as he lived—giving and healing. (At his arrest in the garden he heals the ear of one of those who came to arrest him.) Jesus has established how his followers who come after him are to behave. They are to forgive even their enemies. At his death they are scattered; but after Pentecost they will set out from Jerusalem and do what Jesus did—preach and practice forgiveness.

Read additional commentaries on the passion narrative in Luke's gospel >>

Read a commentary for reading the passion narratives (generally) >>

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

Father, forgive them, they know not what they do

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

Describe a time in your life when you felt a lack of God’s presence in your personal need. How did you handle it?
Have you ever been anxious or worried about something and found that your usual support system was somehow lacking?
How did you feel?
Describe the way Jesus handled his interrogation and torture. What qualities of his that he displayed in these instances do you particularly admire?
From “First Impressions” 2010:
Among the loses I have experienced in my life, which was the most painful?
Did I have any experience of Jesus’ presence with me during that period of pain?
From “America”:
How might Luke’s portrayal of Jesus as a good example even in death challenge you in your own life?
Everybody has a cross to carry in this life, whether it is illness, loneliness, anxiety, personal relationships or professional ones. Can you name one of your “crosses”?
How can you be more like Jesus as you carry your cross(es)?
How can you be sympathetic to the “cross” another is carrying?
From “First Impressions” 2013:
How have I experienced Jesus helping me carry that cross?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

I think of the times in his short life that Jesus was betrayed by those whom he loved. First, at the beginning of his ministry, some family members were sent to fetch him home, fearing that he was mentally ill. Have there been times in my life that I have been betrayed by someone’s lack of faith in me? Judas, perhaps disappointed by Jesus lack of political activism, or motivated by simple greed, sold Jesus for a handful of coins. Have I ever been betrayed by someone’s expectations that I could not fulfill? Have I been betrayed by someone’s willingness to trade my friendship or my well being for personal gain? Peter, Jesus’ right-hand man and good friend, paralyzed by fear, swore vehemently that he never knew Jesus. Have I ever been betrayed by someone else’s insecurity or fears? Did I turn to God in my distress? Then finally me... Have I ever betrayed Jesus and my relationship with him out of embarrassment, selfishness, greed or laziness? I speak to Jesus about these failures of mine, knowing he loves and understands.

A Meditation in the Franciscan Style/Action:

Jesus: a Victim of Capital Punishment
We worship a God whose Son died as a common criminal despite His innocence. During this week when we recall the execution of Jesus Christ, we hear our Pope and Bishops call us as Catholic Christians to work for an end to the death penalty in our state and in our nation. Resolve this week to learn more about California Governor Newsom’s decision on this issue, and resolve to do something this week to advance the cause of the elimination of the death penalty in this country (and eventually, worldwide). Make this a concrete task, not an aspirational one…

Poetic Reflections:

Read the following poem by W.S. Di Piero (from The Restorers). Have I ever disappointed or betrayed anyone? How did it feel?

“Gethsemane”

He had nerve enough to follow,
dogging his heels, for what? To learn
a new vocabulary, a prayer,
down there in yellow iris that smelled
like carcass? He came back smiling.
The dog had its day, rolling in meat.
This meat was news: The Word of God
wants what we want, to be unchosen.

He must have made up his mind then
What if he said, I don't see Him here,
we’ll check later? Instead he gagged
on words, like a mouthful of water
brought from the garden, that blood squirms
from the blossom loads and cracked boughs,
and in the stagnant lake of the heart
the sprouting trunk splits, groans,
spilling wine, the spongy dirt
inhaling any blood that falls,
and I'm falling into the tree
and dogs at lakeside bark at clouds.

Like that. As if his own speech could
infuriate time while he waited
for an act to come upon him
(as joy sometimes happens). The soldiers
(were they his joy?) got impatient.
So finally his bloodless lips
screamed More life! More salt!
before he gave away his kiss.

Now read the following poem by Mary Oliver. How is its tone different?

“Gethsemane”

The grass never sleeps.
Or the roses.
Nor does the lily have a secret eye that shuts until morning.
Jesus said, wait with me. But the disciples slept.

The cricket has such splendid fringe on his feet,
and it sings, have you noticed, with its whole body,
and heaven knows if it ever sleeps.

Jesus said, wait with me. And maybe the stars did, maybe
the wind wound itself into a silver tree, and didn’t move.
Maybe the lake far away, where once he walked
as on a blue pavement,
lay still and waited, wild awake.

Oh the dear bodies, slumped and eye-shut, that could not
keep that vigil, how they must have wept,
so utterly human, knowing this too
must be part of the story.

Weekly Reflections

Palm Sunday, April 10, 2022