The Week that was - and is for Us

"Spy" Wednesday: Judas prepares to leave 

Wednesday of Holy Week readings:  http://www.usccb.org/nab/042011.shtml  

Passion of the Christ, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Jesus of Nazareth, and King of Kings are among the most well known Hollywood film depictions on the life of Jesus Christ. I always thought what a great honor would come to the actor who portrayed Jesus.

That role would be somewhat subjective, however, as we all have an opinion or an image in our mind as to what Jesus was like. Should he be portrayed as a very human almost tragic figure? Should he be depicted as somewhat ethereal and mysterious? Should he smile and laugh or would that be too ordinary? Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell took some real liberties in depicting the humanity of Jesus with questionable divinity.

What sort of anger should he portray? What level of pain and suffering at the scene of the crucifixion? It seems Passion of the Christ took that emotion to its nth degree! But, Jesus did suffer greatly no doubt. In the end, Our Lord remains forever one of the most controversial and compelling figures in human history. And certainly, the most mysterious human being who ever walked this earth: completely human and completely divine – a wondrous mystery of love.

With our Passion/Palm Sunday celebration this weekend we begin the holiest week of our Church year which includes the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday. Also the once a year Chrism Mass with the Archbishop and Priests from throughout the local Church, along with many parishioners, will gather to bless and consecrate the three oils used in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick. It is a powerful and grace-filled week for the Church.

Like the film depictions on the life of Jesus, however, we have the choice to either sit on the sidelines and simply enjoy the show – and quite a “show” it is – or receive the grace to enter more fully into the mystery and beauty of the liturgies. It would be difficult to choose which of the events of this week stand out for they all do. All have meaning for our Christian lives as we welcome Christ to Jerusalem with Palm branches, we gather with him on that fateful night with his Apostles at the meal where he gave us the Eucharist: “Take and eat . . . Take and drink . . . my Body, my Blood.” We are standing in the Garden of Gethsemane in the long, deep valley parallel to the Temple of Jerusalem, when Jesus is arrested; we hear the judgment of Pilate and the cry of the crowd to “Crucify him.” We share in the grief of his Mother Mary who suffered her own Passion at the same time that her son suffered his, and we sit vigil at the Tomb until the glorious resurrection mystery.

Beginning with birth in the waters of Baptism at the Easter Vigil and the following 50 days of festivities marking the Resurrection of Christ this is truly the week that was – and still is for us. If you’re looking for material to contemplate, this is the week to find it. It’s all here! See this as an invitation from the Lord to “be there” through the power of our liturgies which transforms our lives.

Finally, in his most recent book on Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI offers this comment: “The ultimate goal of Jesus ‘ascent’ is his self-offering on the Cross . . . it is the ascent that the Letter to the Hebrews describes as going up . . . to heaven itself, into the presence of God (Hb 9:24). The ascent into God’s presence leads via the Cross – it is the ascent toward ‘loving to the end’ (Jn 13:1), which is the real mountain of God.” (Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week)

And he carries us along with him each day. More will come but for now, let it begin!