COURAGE VERSUS COWARDICE
In a nutshell, the passion and death of Jesus Christ is an exemplification of courage versus cowardice on the part of all the actors involved. From Christ himself to the least participant in the passion and death narrative. In Christ, we see a journey of courage from the inception of his public ministry till his death on the cross.
His preaching, teaching, and healing as well as his lifestyle challenged the complacent status quo of religiosity without any spiritual transformation. The frauds, the controls or the manipulations exercise by men in the name of God and religion.
ANTAGONISM OF RELIGIOSITY AGAINST SPIRITUALITY
It is interesting to note that Jesus’ confrontation was not much with political or economic leaders but ill-fated religious leaders who saw him as a threat or obstacle. They narcissistically gaslighted or contradicted his words, his action and his intents and purposes. They monitored and spiced on him, conspired, criticized, harshly judged and even formed an unhealthy alliance against him.
Finally, they instigated the people and the political authority against him with one simple purpose to do away with him. Yet, amid all these, Jesus was true to his own words “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:31-32. Jesus did not only preached and taught the truth but also lived it out in his life without fear or favour of anyone.
CHRIST DEATH ENVY AGAINST HIS GOODNESS, TRUTHFULNESS AND EMPATHY
The centre story of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is that he courageous stood against falsehood, inauthenticity as well as injustices and abuses in the name of God and religion.
If not, why was he so hated by religious leaders for being good with the most needed people or sinners in need of grace, mercy and forgiveness? His deep concern for the physical and spiritual wellbeing of enslaved persons and souls becomes a deep mark of distastefulness, hatred and resentment.
COURAGE AND COWARDICE
Alongside Jesus, in the passion narrative, some individuals defied the status to stand courageous with him. While at the same times others cowardly took the easy path to shun living courageously like Christ they claimed to follow.
Consequently, the Holy Week celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ brings out in us these elements of courage and cowardice. Indeed, there two types of Christ’s followers: those who daily through their words, actions and lifestyle courageously stand with him and dawning all consequences without fear or favour. And those who cowardly in the name of prudence (a glorified pretence) and cowardice (excusable diplomacy) in their daily life, words and action shun the truth out of fear and favour.
OUR THEME
The readings of the Passion Sunday especially the Gospel of Mark points to the passion, death and burial of Jesus Christ. The readings give us the detailed prophecy of Christ’s passion, the actual Christ´s passion as well as the consequence of Christ’s passion.
That is, in the eternal plan of God to save the human race from sins and slavery to sins, he sent his only Begotten Son to come into the world to save us. Salvation through his preaching, teaching and restorative healing through forgiveness of sins. And ultimately, his inevitable passion and death occasioned a result of being truthful and standing for the truth irrespective of the existing status quo, persons and religious authorities.
Therefore, consequently, the whole passion and death of Christ play around the display of courage and cowardice by Christ and some followers and many others respectively.
PROCESSION OF PALMS: MARK 11:1-10
This reading demonstrated to us the Christ knowing fully well that the way of the cross leads to eventual sufferings and death as the only option to saving the world. He made the triumphant Messianic entry as a humble King into Jerusalem on a donkey.
Though not spoken, Jesus’ action was a courageous claim of the Messiah. An action, the messianic expectant crowd bought into joyfully and emotionally before they were cowardly turned against Christ. One whom they triumphantly acclaimed, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Again we see courageous action on the part of Christ to provoke a political and religious turmoil that set all on edge.
THE FIRST READING: ISAIAH 50:4-7
The prophecy of Isaiah on the Suffering Servant of God came to the exiled people of Israel as the hope of redemption. After 150 years of brutal exile and enslavement in the hands of the Babylonians, where and when tribes and nation were lost.
And new generations of Israelites with no history of the past, now struggling for existence, place and power were courageously given hope of God´s salvation through his suffering servant: the Messiah.
The suffering servant is the courageous Messiah whom unwavering bravery spoke the truth to the existing status quo, confronted religious falsehood, control and abuses as well as challenging the people´s lifestyle of infidelity to God.
Hence, amid the inhuman and unjust treatment meted against him, he was sure in his own words of that: “I know I shall not be put to shame!” He knew with unshaken faith in God that his cruel death would be justified by his glorious resurrection.
The psalm 22
The psalmist reiterated Christ cry on the cross in the pain and agony of his suffering and death: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!” A psalm that fulfils Christ´s passion and death in a lamenting way.
THE SECOND READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
In many ways, this is the greatest and most moving passage Paul ever wrote about Jesus. It is a passage the deals with the most essential qualities of Jesus Christ: his divinity and humanity, his humility and his willing self-emptying to a shameful death of the cross.
Again, a courageous step that led to an unequivocal glory and exaltation above anyone or anything in the past, present and future. A victorious claim and defeat of the devil, evil, sins and death. This led Jesus to obediently assumed a condition of human and beyond that of a slave to save mankind.
At the same a profound challenge to us to be Christ-like in mind and attitude. So the follower of Christ must think always, not of himself but for others, not of his glory but the glory of God. Instead of living a life gratifying selfish ambitions or self-renunciation especially of the truth and its price tags: pains, suffering and sometimes death.
The Gospel: Mark 14:1–15:47
During Cycle B of the Church´s liturgical calendar, the Gospel of Mark is read in the passion narrative of the passion, death and burial of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The evangelist Mark has a unique narrative character of painting a dark and stark reality of passion.
It is usually a long narrative that is dramatically read by some lectors: the narrator (N), another single speaker (O), crowd or more than one speaker (C), and the priest or deacon as Jesus (J).
For analysis of this passion narrative and reflection, the categorizations of Williams Barclays´ in his New Testament Biblical Commentary will be used.
THE LAST ACT BEGINS: THE PASSOVER (Mark 14:1-2)
The last crowded act of Jesus’ life was now about to open: the Feast of the Passover. It was one of the three compulsory feasts every male adult Jew who lived within 15 miles of Jerusalem was bound to attend. The others were the Feast of Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Passover had a double significance. First, it had a historical significance (Exodus 12:1-51). The second significance is agricultural (Leviticus 23:10-11). The historical context of liberation of the first signs is the most important celebration. That is the commemoration of the deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage or slavery in Egypt.
At a feast, the Israelites were to slay a lamb and using a bunch of hyssops smeared the lintel of their door-post with the blood of the lamb. And with this mark, when the angel of death saw the marked post with blood. He passed over that house and its occupants would be safe.
This is the context of the Christian paschal celebration when Christ, the Lamb of God is sacrificed to set us free from slavery to sins. Through his passion, death and resurrection as our Lord and Saviour.
LOVE’S EXTRAVAGANCE (Mark 14:3-9)
This puzzling story tells us of the last act of kindness done to Jesus by a woman whom the gospel of John acknowledged to be Mary (John 12:3). An act is done in the house of Simon the leper in the village of Bethany. With an alabaster phial of ointment, the woman broke the flask and anointed Jesus with the whole contents.
A prophetic sign of preparing Jesus’ body for burial. This is because it is a customary thing to first bathe, then anoint the body of the dead before burial in a tomb. Her action provoked the grudging criticism of some of the bystanders, even Judas Iscariot the bursar of Jesus´ community (John 12:5-7).
Their reactions were not only because of the worth of the flask that cost more than 300 denarii. it was a woman (Mary, possibly the sister of Lazarus) anointing with costly perfume and caressingly touching, kissing and soothing with her hands and hair the body of Christ (John 12:1-7).
This story shows the action of love which is always extravagant, impulsive and courageous kindness to comfort and prepare Jesus for his passion. There is nothing cowardice in the action of this woman, openly she identifies herself with Christ.
THE TRAITOR (MARK 14:10-11) AND LOVE’S LAST APPEAL (MARK 14:17-21)
Contrary to the courage of the woman, we see the cowardice act of betrayal of Judas Iscariot, who could confront his misgiving directly with Christ instead chose to betray him. A terrible treachery act was done out of cowardice and ill-faith towards Christ knowing the hatred of the Jewish religious authorities for him. Why? Some biblical scholars have some theories about why Judas Iscariot did what he did.
a. He was a very covetous soul who loved money, (John12:6) and would do anything to acquire it. It was believed that at this time the Jewish religious authorities had declared Jesus an outlaw with a bounty on his head. Judas knew this and being an opportunist (Matthew 26:16) as well as a thief (John 12:6) took advantage to sell his master for thirty pieces of silver. The greatest treacherous act of human history.
b. There was jealousy. Judas, when he joined the Twelve, had every gift and every virtue which might have made him great, but that bit by bit he became consumed with jealousy of John, the beloved disciple, and that this jealousy drove him to do this terrible act. Judas was talented and trusted by Christ, that is why he ended up as the bursar of his community.
Jesus´ community was not without occasional tension among the twelve. However, many scholars believed there is competitive tension between John the beloved and Judas Iscariot. It was on this ground that John did not hesitate to call him a thief.
c. He was also an ambitious fellow for wealth and power. Among the twelve, they all taught that Jesus´ kingdom was an earthly one. Hence, he was ambitious and dreamed of occupying a high position (Mk 10:35-45; Mt 20:20-28).
d. As a fanatical nationalist or activist, he did not mean it for Jesus to be crucified even though he knew the authorities were out to get him. He only betrayed him to force his hand to act intake initiative of taking back the Kingdom of Israel from the external force of the imperial power and authority of Romans occupying their God-given land.
e. Some believed that Judas did not want Jesus to die at all. He had seen Jesus sneaked and escaped from the Jewish religious authorities whenever they were out to get him. Hence, for the love of money, he wanted to defraud them, hoping Christ will get away though he gave a code to get him.
f. There is the Lucan or the Johannine evidence that it was Judas covetousness and selfish ambition that makes him an instrument of the devil who possessed and used him to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3, John 13:27).
However, whatever way the Judas Iscariot story of betrayal is seen. It was cowardice, not courage that made him become a traitor.
Yet, Jesus out of love passionately appeals to Judas his trusted friend not to be a tool in the hands of Satan or the Jewish religious authority. “This is the truth I tell you–one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me,” “The Son of Man goes as it stands written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It had been good for him if that man had not been born.”
Jesus knew what was going to happen and could see into the heart of Judas. Thus, this was both a message of appealing love as well as a grave warning to a trusted friend.
PREPARING FOR THE FEAST (MARK 14:12-16) AND THE MEAL OF SALVATION (MARK 14:22-26)
The Jewish Passover Feast involved the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was because the first Passover in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-51) had been celebrated with unleavened bread. A bread that is not like bread at all but a water-biscuit.
Traditionally, there were certain things necessary for the Passover Feast and these things the disciples must get them ready for.
(i) There was the lamb, to remind them of how their houses had been protected by the badge of blood when the angel of death passed through Egypt.
(ii) There was the unleavened bread to remind them of the bread they had eaten in haste when they escaped from slavery.
(iii) There was a bowl of saltwater, to remind them of the tears they had shed in Egypt and of the waters of the Red Sea through which they had miraculously passed to safety.
(iv) (There was a collection of bitter herbs–horseradish, chicory, endive, lettuce, and horehound–to remind them of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.
(v) There was a paste called Charosheth, a mixture of apples, dates, pomegranates and nuts, to remind them of the clay of which they had made bricks in Egypt. Through it, there were sticks of cinnamon to remind them of the straw with which the bricks had been made.
(vi) There were four cups of wine. The cups contained a little more than half a pint of wine, but three parts of wine were mixed with two of water. The four cups, which were drunk at different stages of the meal, were to remind them of the four promises in Exodus 6:6-7,
HOLY THURSDAY AND THE INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST
It was in the context of this preparation that the first Eucharist Meal, a perfect replacement of the Jewish Passover Meal was celebrated. The Eucharistic Meal of Salvation: the Body (Unleavened Bread) and the Blood (the cup of wine) of Jesus Christ.
The Eucharistic Meal is the unbloodied sacrifice of the cross on the altar of Holy Thursday. When Jesus took a loaf and gave thanks for it, and broke it and gave it to them and said, “Take this. This is my body.” And in this way, he took a cup and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is the blood of the new covenant which is being shed for many.”
In doing this, Jesus forever and ever established the New Covenant of his Body and Blood as the new Passover Feast of Israel. With the injunction to celebrate it as an everlasting memorial of him.
Therefore, the Eucharist is a generous and courageous gift of Christ himself for all his followers born out of unfailing and unconditional love for us.
THE FAILURE OF FRIENDS (MARK 14:27-31) A CERTAIN YOUNG MAN (MARK 14:51-52) AND COURAGE AND COWARDICE (MARK 14:54; MARK 14:66-72)
At the end of the New Passover Meal, Jesus led the action of thanksgiving wherewith his disciple, they sang the psalms and hymns of praise before departing for the Mount of Olives.
He predicted the disciple all abandoning him, and Peter´s denial of him three times before the cock crows. Though the mouthy Peter tried to defend himself with an oath, he knew deep within him that words are not actions and he was a coward. So also are the other disciples whose silence spoke to this shameful fact or reality.
NO LAST MAN WAS STANDING WITH JESUS: COURAGE FAILS THEM ALL
Eventually, the cowardice action of the frightening and scary disciples manifested itself to the extreme of a certain young man running away naked. Perhaps his philosophy of flight is, it is better to live now and fight another day. When the truth of the matter was a coward dies a hundred times before his or her actual death was all he displayed.
Then comes Peter´s denial of Jesus not even before men or soldiers but young maids. The greatest act of cowardice in history. Sadly, his impulsive character could not carry him to put up defend for Christ as he swore (Mk 14:31) and acted by cutting the high priest´s servant ear (Lk 22:50; John 18:10).
For him, in the chilling cold of the dawn, the self-preservation instinct was more eminent than the courage to identify with Christ whom he knew very well and paid allegiance in a profound way (Mt 16:13-20, Mk 8:27-30).
Similarly, we see this lack of courage during Jesus’ trial, his journey to Calvary and crucifixion on the cross. Besides, John the beloved, Mary, Jesus’ mother and other women no masculine presence was there to accompany, console or encourage him.
THY WILL BE DONE (Mark 14:32-42), THE ARREST (MARK 14:43-50) AND THE TRIAL (MARK 14:53; MARK 14:55-65)
With the Jewish religious and Roman authorities on the watch for Jesus, and with Judas bent on treachery. Jesus knew that the upper room where he had the Last Supper with his disciples was not the best place. For him to have his last personal and quiet moment with God his Father in prayer.
As such, he chose the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, perhaps one of his habitual places of prayer and quiet time with God. At this critical and crucial moment of Jesus’ life, it was evident his passion and death were inevitable. Hence, he longed for a human and divine connection. He wanted one last moment of fellowship with his friends (John 15:15)
As well, he wanted a moment with God to quieten his troubling spirit. He requested his disciples to watch with him in prayer just for one hour, one last hour. It was strange that men who so short a time before had been protesting that they would die for him, could not stay awake for him one single hour.
Psychologically, the sorrowful mood weighs heavily on them too. Sleep is an escaping way from harsh human realities. The tensional moment had drained their strength and their resistance to stay awake.
However, Jesus prayed alone to God his Father in silence tear and a loud cry. “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence” (Heb. 5:7).
In another instance, Luke, the medical doctor testified to the emotional and physical state of Jesus at this final hour of distress and anguish. Though he received divine assistance through the angel, he was completely exhausted with sorrow and sadness. “Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Lk 22: 43-44).
CERTAIN HUMAN INCLINATIONS ARE CLEAR ABOUT JESUS IN THIS PASSAGE.
(i) There was a deep struggle in Jesus and He did not want to die. He was thirty-three and no one wants to die with life just opening on to the best of the years. He had done so little and there was a world waiting to be saved. He knew what crucifixion was like and he shuddered away from it. He had to compel himself to go on but he prayed and wished there was another way to save us.
(ii) He did not fully understand why this had to be. He only knew beyond a doubt that this was the will of God and that he must go on. Jesus, too, had to make the great venture of faith, he had to accept the iron fate that awaits him and something he could not understand.
(iii) He submitted to the will of God: Abba: “my father”. It is one word that made all the difference. Jesus was not submitting to a God out of cynicism but out of trust and obedience knowing His Will must and should be done.
RESISTANCE TO GRACE AND LOVE: THE BATTLE OF SIN IN US
Judas, the traitor did not just know the place of Jesus´ prayer and quiet time and led his assailants and captors there. Hence, he told his captors what to do immediately he gave them the sign-code of kissing him. He was aware Jesus is was evasive whenever they wanted to arrest him. “The betrayer had given them this sign. “Whom I shall kiss,” he said, “that is he. Seize him and take him away securely.”
Greeting of kiss is carry out by intimate and trusted friends. While handshake is for causal friends. What Jesus and Judas were three solid years of companion, friendship and brotherhood. This was the breaking point for Jesus to see a trusted friend turn foe and ally of evil.
At Jesus’ arrest, things were moving quickly to their inevitable end. His trial was one of the most flagrant injustices in history. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin; that is, the supreme court of the Jews made up of seventy-one elders from the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Scribes classes sought pieces of evidence to condemn Jesus. They were supposed to be elderly men of integrity, honour and impeccable character as in honesty, justice and truthfulness.
Yet, their unfairness in words and actions were signs of their deep-seated hatred for Christ and a one-time opportunity to destroy a common enemy for life. The Sadducees and Pharisees were touchy enemies at sight- however against Christ they became allies.
Unfortunately, the powers of the High Priest, Chief priests, and the Sanhedrin were limited because the Romans were the rulers of the country. They have jurisdiction in religious issues or matters but have no right to sentence one to death. This explains why they spent the night formulating pieces of evidence to present against Jesus before the Roman authority.
This court of supposedly “religious and just” men broke its own rules. Just to do away with the perceived enemy. First, they were not supposed to meet at night or during festive days and they did. Second, there is no word of an individual member of the Sanhedrin examining the pieces of evidence against Jesus and given an independent verdict.
Maliciously, they falsely and twistedly accused him of destroying the Temple alongside other false witnesses. The High Priest determined to have something concrete against Jesus took the matters into his own hands by questioning him. He asked if he was the Messiah and Jesus answer was affirmative which for the High Priest and the Sanhedrin was a charge of blasphemy, insult against God.
By this charge, Jesus merited the death penalty. However, two basic truths emerged, he acted with courage by his answer instead of denying the truth of his identity. He spoke also with confidence even when pains, sufferings, cross and death were imminent.
THE SILENCE OF JESUS (Mark 15:1-5)
Equally, they aligned themselves to their worst enemy the imperial Roman and their subordinate Herodian authorities. Even to the extent of recognising and paying homage to Emperor Caesar. “From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar” (John 19:12: John 19:14-16)
Interestingly, Jesus before Pilate maintained a troubling silence upon every accusation by the chief priests and a rhetorical answer to interrogation from Pilate. For Jesus, there is a time when silence is more eloquent than words, for silence can say things that words can never say.
THE CHOICE OF THE MOB (Mark 15:6-15) AND THE SOLDIERS’ MOCKERY (Mark 15:16-20)
With Pilate convinced that Jesus was innocent, he made moves to set him free against the wish of the Jewish religious authorities. By customarily wanting to set free him but Barabbas a brigand and bandit was preferred by the people. Thanks to the propaganda machine of conspirators that instigated the people against Jesus.
The choice of Barabbas to Jesus speaks volume about the mentality and disposition of the Jewish religious authorities. They chose lawlessness instead of law and war instead of peace. They also chose hatred and violence instead of love. The mobs were “narcissistic flying monkeys” who unknowingly are been used by the narcissistic and abusive religious authorities to do their dirty biddings.
WHEN THE LIES AND SCHEME OF THE POWERFUL ARE STRONGER YOUR TRUTH
Tragically, the Roman authority unjustly gave in to these narcissistic abuses, control and manipulation of the overwhelming and aggressive Jewish religious authorities and mob. Pilate condemned an innocent, peaceful, just and righteous man out of fear or favour. He was scourged, mocked and condemned to die on the cross- the shameful death of a criminal.
THE CROSS (Mark 15:21-28)
The way of the cross is a long, bumpy and energy-draining one for Jesus. He was exhausted and agonizing under the weight of the enormous cross. The soldiers in their cruel fun tortured him and enlisted a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene: father of Alexander and Rufus. An African pilgrim, probably going to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, to help Jesus his cross. Although he was obligated, he willingly and courageously helps Jesus with his cross.
At Golgotha, the place of crucifixion Jesus was not crucified between two thieves. He was also stripped naked of his cloak and dices were cast for whom to have it.
THE LIMITLESS LOVE (MARK 15:29-32) AND TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH (MARK 15:33-41)
Amidst lack of empathy and cruelty from soldiers, those passing by, the chief priests and one of the thieves crucified with Jesus. The cross was the deepest depth of God´s love manifested to mankind. It is a sacrifice of unconditional and limitless love.
The terrible, grim, bleak and bitter moment of Jesus´ un-consoling and lamenting cry: “My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me?”, was a tragic moment. This is because Jesus had taken this life of ours upon him. He had done our work and faced our temptations and borne our trials. He had suffered all that life could bring. He had known the failure of friends, the hatred of foes, and the malice of enemies. He had known the most searing pain that life could offer (Isaiah 53:4-7).
Certainly, before this crushing moment, Jesus had lived through all human experiences of life except one–he had never known the consequence of sin. If there is one thing sin does, it separates us from God. It puts between us and God a barrier like an unscalable wall.
Invariably, the sense of abandonment or the sense of separation cried out by Jesus as a result of his identity with the human condition of sin. Hence, he who had never sin got to know sin for our sake and felt abandoned or separated from God.
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL WHEN LIVED INNOCENTLY
The unimaginable beauty of all is that Jesus died with the cry of triumph on his lips, his task accomplished, his work completed, his victory won. After the terrible dark there came the light again, and he went home to God a victor triumphant. No matter the darkest night the beautiful sun ray will always rise to shine and dispel the darkness.
This victory note resounds among many courageous individuals who directly or indirectly identified themselves with Jesus.
i. The centurion, a hard-bitten Roman soldier who had seen many a man die. But he had never seen a man die the way Jesus died and was sure that he was the Son of God. Indeed, he confessed before the Cross of shame: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mk 15:39; Mt 27:54)
ii. The women in the distance, including Mary, mother of Jesus. They were bewildered, heart-broken, drenched in sorrow. But they were there witnessing the greatest act of undying, unfailing and unselfish love: an all self-emptying.
iii. The John the Beloved, apostle and evangelist were there with and for Jesus and perhaps Mary all the way long. At last, one beloved and trusted friend, son and brother remained to bear witness of love dying for all. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).
iv. “The curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” This was the curtain which shut off the Holy of Holies, into which no man might go. Symbolically that tells us two things.
a. The way to God was now wide open to any man seeking salvation without restriction or conditions.
b. Within the Holy of Holies dwelt the very essence of God. . Now with the death of Jesus the curtain which hid God was torn and men could see him face to face. No longer was God hidden. No longer need men to guess and grope. Men could look at Jesus and say, “That is what God is like. God loves me like that.”
v. The man who gave Jesus a tomb (mark 15:42-47). Joseph of Arimathaea whose bravery and courageous identification with Christ saved his body from scavenging dogs and vultures. As well as preparing it for its resurrection. By donating his tomb in which no one had been laid.
Joseph a member of the Sanhedrin was not an all innocent man. He was an accomplice of the culture of silence, indifference or niceties. Hence, his bold and generous gestures could be seen as a sign of remorsefulness to make amend for sins.
CHRIST PASSION AND DEATH AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR US TODAY
In summary, the passion, death and resurrection are anchored on courage or cowardice of all parties involved. There are a lot of implications for us. We cannot both stand with or for Christ and remain with the world.
We are either brave or courageous to stand for the truth with fear or favour or compromise or watering down the Standard or the Truth. Or we can cowardly maintain silence, indifference or collaborative denied the truth and justice to be “nice” Christian or person with a double standard life.
Today, Christ continues to die in the face of injustice, abuses of power and authority, in the coward silence of complacent, cynicism, indifference, flight and no-will that affect millions of people in the spheres of religion, politics, culture, economic, moral, ethics, and nature. Just because, the good or religious man or woman is too afraid or with too much cowardice to act or speak for fear and favour the existing status quo.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, as we live and relive the Holy Week of your passion, death and resurrection in our personal as well as a communal life as a Church. Help us to relive it with gratefulness, repentance and resolution for concrete action of courage on our part. Amen.
