ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES - Matthew 16:13-19

Being considered pillars of the Church, Peter and Paul are celebrated together on this day. Both of them finished their mission in Rome, where they suffered martyrdom during Nero’s persecution. Chosen by Jesus to be the first leader of the Church, Peter is revered for his faith and his role in the early Church. Guided by the Spirit, he opened the Church to the Gentiles. Paul is celebrated for his extraordinary missionary work, the depth of his theological reflection, and the pastoral care of the churches with which he kept in touch.

In the second reading, taken from 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, Paul reviews his life, giving thanks and praise to God. He is reaching the end of his life, and he has kept the faith. Despite going through many hardships, he fought the good fight and is finishing the race. He knows that he did not put his trust in God in vain. God will fulfil his promise and grant him the “crown of righteousness”.

Even though we celebrate both Apostles Peter and Paul, on this feast day, most people of God concentrate on Peter, having for him greater affection. The New Testament was written to lead us to the faith proclaimed by Peter. When Jesus asks the question that he addresses to us as well, we must give the same answer. The question is simple: Who do you say I am? It is a very personal question that demands a personal answer, but in consonance with the community of faith. With the Church, we must proclaim that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. This faith is the foundation of the Church, and Peter is the bedrock of this foundation. The care of the flock was entrusted to him, and he must confirm his brothers in faith.

We give thanks to God for these two bastions of the Church. May we follow in their footsteps and walk behind Christ as they did.

WHAT I RECEIVED FROM THE LORD

THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST - Luke 9:11-17

In the countries where last Thursday is not a holiday, the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is celebrated today. In the gospel, we are presented with Jesus feeding a huge crowd. Christ behaves like the host who sets the table for his guests (the people of God). His actions are similar to those he will perform during the Last Supper; he took the bread, blessed it (gave thanks for it), broke it and gave it to his disciples “to distribute among the crowd”. The food was so abundant that “they all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps remaining were collected, they filled twelve baskets.” The feeding of the five thousand is an announcement of the great banquet in God’s kingdom, hinting as well to the Eucharist in which we are given the bread of heaven, that is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The celebration of the Eucharist is an anticipation of the banquet God will prepare, as he promised in Isaiah 25:6. We always celebrate the Eucharist looking forward to the eschatological times.

In the second reading (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), Paul gives us the narrative of the Last Supper with Jesus’ clear command: “do this as a memorial of me”. Paul is utterly certain that the eucharistic celebration comes from the Lord: “what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you”. The tradition of the Eucharist was not established in the early Church, but rather is a fruit of obedience to the Lord’s command.

Since the apostolic time, the Church has always understood Jesus’ words in a literal way. When we approach the altar during Mass, we receive Jesus Himself, His body and His blood, as the bread from heaven. The kernel of the eucharistic celebration comes from Jesus. With Him, we break the bread and give thanks, repeating the same words He pronounced in the Last Supper. The Eucharist is always linked to Jesus’ passion and death, being also the celebration of His resurrection. Paul has no doubts about it: “Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death.” And Jesus Himself interprets his death as the sacrifice of the New Covenant, a sacrifice offered for the remission of sins. In the Mass, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross becomes present to us so that we may be reconciled with God.

The first reading, taken from Genesis 14:18-20, speaks of Melchizedek, who was priest and king, and is a figure of the Messiah. Jesus is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, who offered a sacrifice of bread and wine transformed for us into His body and His blood.

Let us approach the table of the Lord with faith and a thankful heart.

 THE LOVE OF GOD HAS BEEN POURED INTO OUR HEARTS

SOLEMNITY OF HOLY TRINITY - 

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity pervades the entire Christian life and is always present in everything we say and do. Before this great mystery, we must sit in silence with an open mind and loving heart to be touched by the unfathomable reality of God. On our own, we cannot grapple with such a big mystery. We should not be surprised since mysteries are all around us and even within us. We are a mystery to ourselves. There is a Bemba proverb that says munda ya mubiyo tamwigilwa, that is, there is no way to enter your friend’s guts, meaning that we cannot know his thoughts and feelings unless he reveals himself. The same happens with God. Throughout the history of salvation, during a long process, God revealed himself as the One who is always looking for relationships. And that is so because God is relationship. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is Yahweh, the God who is always present and ready to hear our cry and lift us. God is relationship and communion, and that is what we profess and proclaim as we celebrate the Most Holy Trinity. We speak of God as Father, from whom the Son proceeds. That’s why everything the Father has belongs to the Son as well. The Son is the perfect image of the Father. “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (Jn 1:18). “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Col 1:19). Affirming the Trinity is affirming that God is love (1 Jn 4:8). In his letter to the Romans, Paul says that the “love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.” (Ro 5:5). The Spirit proceeds from the Father and is sent to us by the Son (Jn 15:26). He is the Spirit of truth who guides us to the truth and opens our hearts to welcome Jesus and recognise him as the Christ, the Son of God.

We do not believe in three Gods. There is only one God. Christians are monotheists, but whenever we speak of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we are testifying that God is love. Being created in God’s image, we must live in love to reach our fulfilment and be fully human.

We relate to God in a very different way from the way Muslims do. Yahweh and Allah are not the same God. Before Allah, a Muslim is a slave who must submit unconditionally. Before Yahweh, we are children who may call Him: Abba! Father! Allah is a lonely and very distant God. He never addresses his people, but through a messenger. He does not enter into a personal relationship with human beings. He decides and imposes his will as he wishes. We, the disciples of Jesus Christ, live in hope because “by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God’s glory.” (Rm 5:2)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

the God who is, who was, and who is to come. (cf.Rv 1:8)

COME, HOLY SPIRIT

SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST

The Jewish Feast of Weeks was also known as Pentecost, as it was celebrated fifty days after Passover. It was a harvest festival during which the first fruits were offered to God. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the festival became an occasion to celebrate the giving of the Torah (Law) at Mount Sinai.

On this festive day, the group of Jesus’ disciples gathered together had a deep experience that changed their lives forever. Shaken by a powerful wind, they saw something “that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them”. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they overcame their fears and started proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus, on the day of Pentecost, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Church was born. This community of believers is built upon Jesus as the cornerstone of the new people of God, ruled by a new Law. Jesus entrusted his disciples with the mission he had received from the Father. They were sent forth to announce the Good News of the Kingdom of God, and the Holy Spirit empowered them to carry out that mission.

Today’s readings speak of the manifestations of the Spirit and his fruits in the Church. He is the Spirit of truth that guides and strengthens the Church. Being the Spirit of wisdom, he leads us to faith in Jesus, whom we recognise as the Son of God, accepting him as the Christ and the Saviour of the world. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit revealed himself through the symbols of wind and fire. God breathed new life into Jesus’ disciples, thus creating the church that will become a new humanity. The Holy Spirit came as a fire, the fire of love that will warm our lives, making it possible to live in brotherly affection with others. He is the Light of Jesus Christ, showing forth the way to the building of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit is the living water that quenches our thirst for truth, justice, love and happiness. As living water, the Holy Spirit is profoundly linked with Baptism. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote: “In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.” (1 Co 12:13). In baptism, through the Holy Spirit, we are born again, becoming children of God:  To the Romans, Paul wrote: “Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. “ (Ro 8;14-17).

With the Holy Spirit, Jesus granted his disciples the authority to forgive sins, making reconciliation possible (Jn 20:19-23). Indeed, He is the spirit of peace who leads us to become builders of peace.

With the Church, let us pray:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

ASCENSION - A CELEBRATION OF HOPE

SOLEMNITY OF ASCENSION - VII EASTER SUNDAY - Ephesians 1:17-23

In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul prays to God, asking that he may give us “a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him.” Indeed, we need wisdom and perception. There is so much that we don’t understand! We should pray as Paul did: May the Lord give us wisdom and understanding. Enlightened by Him, we may find the reasons for our hope, which arises from his call. Jesus’ glorification is a promise and guarantee of our glorification. In Jesus´ Ascension, our humanity has been raised and taken the glory of divinity. The day will come when the glory of God will be fully manifested in us. Then, we will be taken up to inherit the rich glories promised to the saints, and we will recognise the greatness of his power. We can see that power at work in Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, which reveals to us his glorification. God raised Jesus from the dead and made him “sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.”

In the ascension, we celebrate Jesus’ headship not only of the Church but also of the universe. He is the fullness of God that fills the whole creation. Time will come when that fullness will be manifest totally in us; then, we will be taken up with Christ to sing with all the angels and saints the glory of God. Meanwhile, we are called to remain here on earth, wherein we must play the role of yeast, salt and light to bring ever closer the Kingdom of God.

THE FIRST COUNCIL OF THE CHURCH

VI SUNDAY OF EASTER - Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

The early Church faced a huge problem that threatened her unity and risked her existence. The question was fundamental: Can the Gentiles be saved and be welcomed as members of the people of God, the Church? What are the essential conditions for their acceptance? Should they be obliged to follow the Law of Moses, or was it enough to believe in Jesus Christ? Paul was adamant that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ without needing to accept and follow the Mosaic law. Many Jews, mainly those coming from the mother Church in Jerusalem, considered the acceptance of the law to be an essential condition for salvation. Thus, to enter the Church, they should be circumcised. 

Faced with a difficult decision, the new communities of Gentiles sent a delegation to Jerusalem, which presented their case to the Apostles, who called for a meeting with the elders of the Church. Peter was the first to address the assembly, reminding them that the Holy Spirit had led him to welcome the first Gentiles, accepting them into the Church. Then, Paul and Barnabas reported on the evangelisation work that they had done among the Gentiles. In the end, James addressed the assembly and proposed a compromise, thus avoiding a complete break between Jews and Gentiles. Having reached a solution, they wrote a letter to the communities and entrusted its presentation to a delegation composed of Judas Barsabbas and Silas. In the letter to the communities, they affirm that the decision was made by the Holy Spirit, who guided them to settle the problem: “It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves”.

Since then, the first council of the Church has remained a model for many others that would take place throughout the centuries. In times of crisis, the elders of the Church assemble to discuss the big issues that endanger the life of the Church. In those assemblies, called councils (and synods), through the Holy Spirit, they come to solutions that strengthen and guide the whole Church to remain faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Jerusalem, only the Apostles and the elders gathered together. It was a meeting of the shepherds, which helped them to discern the ways of the Spirit for the Church. This has been the tradition of the Church kept through the centuries. Indeed, the shepherds have to look after the flock, and will be called to account if they fail to fulfil their duty. In the Church, we walk together, guided and protected by our shepherds who must take us to the springs of living water. The Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, is the role model of all shepherds. He bestows his peace on us and grants us the Holy Spirit, as an advocate and a teacher, who will teach us everything.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

V SUNDAY OF EASTER - Acts 14:21-27/ John 13:31-33, 34-35 Apocalypse 21:1-5

In the first reading, Paul and Barnabas returned to the communities they had evangelised, and they appointed elders in each one of them. We see in action the process of establishing and building up the Church, thus guaranteeing continuity.

Paul and Barnabas were sent on a mission of evangelisation by the Church of Antioch, and they kept their ties with the community which sent them. “On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.”

The building of the Church implies perseverance in the faith, which is not an easy task, since we go through many hardships. That’s why Paul and Barnabas “commended them (the elders) to the Lord”. They will need God’s grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This first great mission establishes a pattern for future missions. In the name of the Church, preachers will be sent to announce the Good News in foreign lands, where the Church will deepen her roots and become a local Church with her leaders. After being evangelised, she will become an evangeliser. In this evangelisation work, the missionaries are guided by faith and strengthened by hope. The risen Christ will bring about a new world, where God will be all in all (Ep 1:23). In one of his visions, John “saw a new heaven and a new earth”. 

In this new world, “God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.” In the new world, we will be filled with God’s love, a love that we must live and experience while in this world. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must love one another, putting into practice the new commandment:

“I give you a new commandment:

love one another;

just as I have loved you,

you also must love one another.”

THE LAMB WILL BE THEIR SHEPHERD

IV SUNDAY OF EASTER - John 10:27-30

Pope Leo XIV has just been elected to be the shepherd of the Church to promote the unity and strengthen the communion within the Church. His first Sunday mass as Pope will be the Good Shepherd Sunday. We are invited to pray for our shepherds and reflect upon their stewardship. 

By the will of the Lord, in the Church, there are shepherds to whom he entrusted the responsibility of guiding, protecting, and defending the sheep. They must have Jesus Christ as their role model. He is the Good Shepherd who gives life to his sheep. With Jesus, “they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me.” Entrusting Simon Peter with the stewardship of his Church, Jesus insisted: “Feed my lambs”, “tend my sheep”, and “feed my sheep” (Jn 21:15-17). The Pope was given a role that was not entrusted to others.

Jesus has endowed the Church with gifts and equipped “the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12).  In the Church, there is a great variety of gifts, and all those who receive them must cooperate and work in harmony for the Good of the Church. The apostles and the shepherds are called to be at the forefront, leading the way to the Kingdom of God.

Even though all Christians are called to give witness to Jesus Christ, the shepherds must be qualified witnesses, keeping the whole Church faithful to Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Romans, Paul recommends an attitude of service in the ministers and advises “the one who leads” to do it “with zeal” (Rm 12:8). It is a duty of the shepherds to lead the sheep to Jesus Christ, and all must listen to His voice and follow Him,

The second reading, taken from Revelation (Apocalypse), speaks of the Lamb as the true shepherd who “will lead them (the sheep) to springs of living water”. In Him, we will find life and salvation. All those who washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb and will “stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his sanctuary; and the One who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.” (Rev 7:9,14-17). May we be counted among them and with them sing the praises of the Lord.

In this Good Shepherd Sunday, we are invited to pray earnestly for the Pope, the Bishops and the priests, mainly those who have people entrusted to their care. Let us pray for many vocations as well. May the Lord grant his Church good shepherds. 

DO YOU LOVE ME?

III SUNDAY OF EASTER - John 21:1-19

This Sunday’s gospel presents the situation of the Church after the resurrection. The apostles are back in Galilee, probably obeying Jesus’ orders (Mt 28:10). Seven of them are gathered together, representing the whole community of disciples, the Church. They seem a bit lost, without a purpose. As always, Peter takes the initiative and decides to go fishing. The others followed him. And they spent the night in the boat, “but caught nothing that night”. They worked in vain. Effort and initiative are not enough. They had been called to be fishers of men, and then ordered by the Lord to go and proclaim the Good News. However, their effort at fishing men was not more successful than their work at casting the nets. Peter took the leading role, but he was not ready yet to proclaim the Gospel, guided and strengthened by the Spirit. They lacked the presence of the Risen Christ and the awareness that all evangelisation must be done in his name and depends on his grace.

Early in the morning, Jesus came and, standing on the shore of the lake, addressed them: “Have you caught anything, friends?” Jesus calls them friends, as he had done in the Last Supper: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (Jm 15:15). They had caught nothing and they would go home empty handed. Then, Jesus intervenes, giving advice that sounds like an order: “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” The right side brings to mind the right hand of God, referring to his power, honour, compassion and love. The ones chosen for salvation will be on His right. Following Jesus’ advice, they caught plenty of fish. The beloved disciple  immediately recognised Jesus and told Peter: “It is the Lord.” Following his impulse, Peter put on his cloak, because he was half-naked, and jumped into the water, swimming towards Jesus. Like Peter, we are half-naked, full of ourselves, unable to recognise the Lord and follow Him. Paul would write that the true disciple must “put on the armour of light”, that is, “put on the  Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro 13:12,14).

In the boat, they brought ashore one hundred and fifty-three (153) big fish. This special number redirects our minds to Ezekiel 47:10. From under the altar, it comes a spring of living water that will become a mighty river with plenty of fish to be caught by fishermen with nets: “Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.” The numeral value of Engedi is 17, and the value of Eneglaim is 153, being 153 the triangular number of 17, The Risen Christ is the altar and the temple, and from its right side, the living water comes.

While waiting for the disciples, Jesus prepared them a meal with bread and fish, and asked the disciples to bring more fish. It is the Lord who satisfies our hunger and quenches our thirst. He is the one who prepares the table and sets the food on it, giving us the food of heaven. In the Eucharist, we meet the Lord and are drawn into Him. Only by eating the bread of life are we able to answer truthfully Jesus' personal question: Do you love me?

HIS LOVE HAS NO END

II SUNDAY OF EASTER - John 20:19-31

This Second Sunday of Easter is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. The responsorial psalm gives the tone for this Sunday's celebration:

Let the sons of Israel say:

  ‘His love has no end.’

Let the sons of Aaron say:

  ‘His love has no end.’

Let those who fear the Lord say:

  ‘His love has no end.’ - Psalm 118

Indeed, let us sing God’s praise, because his love is without end. During his public ministry, Jesus welcomed sinners and shared meals with them, which was considered unbecoming behaviour for a prophet. Jesus answered their criticism, quoting the prophet Hosea 6:6 by saying: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” And added: “For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mt 9:13/ 12:7). In the mercy parables, Jesus revealed the Father’s heart, a heart full of love and compassion. Being God’s children, we are called to become like him, that is, loving, compassionate and merciful. Jesus gave his disciples this commandment: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Lk 6:36).

This Sunday, we celebrate God’s mercy, as we hear his call to be merciful. As we experience God’s love and mercy, we are moved by His Spirit, who enables us to be merciful, forgiving those who have sinned against us. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, assuring them of God’s merciful love.

Jesus entrusted his disciples to continue his mission: “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” The Church must proclaim the gospel, calling people to repentance and conversion. To carry out this mission, the disciples received the Holy Spirit from Jesus, who entrusted them with the ministry of reconciliation. Jesus gave the Church authority to forgive sins, bringing about reconciliation with God: “For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.” The reconciliation with God paves the way for reconciliation with others and ourselves. Reconciliation is made possible by being loved and forgiven, thus opening the way to build peace and establish a just society. Every day, as we pray to the Father, we ask: May your Kingdom come. God’s Kingdom comes whenever we do God’s will. And God, who forgives, calls us to forgive.

With Jesus’ resurrection, the power of sin and death has been defeated, and in Him we are renewed through the power of the Spirit that he granted us. Today’s gospel teaches us that the experience of the risen Lord must be done in the community of the disciples. When we withdraw from it, we lack the support found in shared love and reconciliation. Thomas went through that experience. Once back in the community to participate in the Sunday (the first day) assembly, he encountered Christ and proclaimed his faith. We must do the same profession of faith: “My Lord and my God!”

THE LORD HAS RISEN! ALELUIA!

EASTER SUNDAY - Acts 10:34, 37-43

The Jewish Passover was the first great feast of liberation. Every year, the people of Israel celebrated the great action of God that set them free, constituting them as the People of God. The lamb's sacrifice and the Passover meal were at the centre of the celebration. However, that liberation and the feast that celebrated it were prophecies and prefigurations of a greater liberation brought about by Christ, the Messiah, who offered himself in sacrifice as the Lamb of God who takes away the world's sins. It’s by his blood shed for us that we are set free from the slavery of sin. He died for us and overcame death by his resurrection. Being one with Him, we become whole, and God’s glory may shine on us again.  If we share in his death, we will share in his resurrection. In communion with the Son, we become God’s children and are given the right to enter his kingdom and sit at his table.

During the celebration of the Easter Vigil, we are called to give thanks and praise to God because the words of Isaiah are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty;

though you have no money, come!

Buy corn without money, and eat,

and, at no cost, wine and milk.

Why spend money on what is not bread,

your wages on what fails to satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and you will have good things to eat

and rich food to enjoy.

Pay attention, come to me;

listen, and your soul will live. 

With you I will make an everlasting covenant

out of the favours promised to David. (Is 55:1-3)

You may listen to the song composed by the group of students doing the spiritual year in preparation for the promise to commit themselves to the proclamation of the Gospel.

1- The Lord has risen from the dead

As he announced

Let us rejoice

For he reigns forever

Chorus: Christ's Passover/ It is the salvation of men. Alleluia, alleluia (2x).

2- Christ came down from heaven

To rescue the people

He stripped himself of his greatness

With a kind heart

Chorus: Christ's Passover/ It is the salvation of men. Alleluia, alleluia (2x).

3- Rejoice, peoples of the earth

Christ lives forever

Christ reigns over humanity

His kingdom is one of peace.

Chorus: Christ's Passover/ It is the salvation of men. Alleluia, alleluia (2x).

May the words of Peter taken from the first Easter Sunday reading find echo in our hearts:

“They killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses – we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name.’” (Act 10:37-43)

CHRIST JESUS DID NOT CLING TO HIS EQUALITY WITH GOD

PALM SUNDAY - Luke 22:14-23:56

The Lenten season has ended, and we begin the Holy Week with Palm Sunday. We celebrate the solemn entrance in Jerusalem when a big crowd of disciples proclaimed him the Messiah-King, “who comes in the name of the Lord”. Some Pharisees who accompanied him considered those words provocative and asked Jesus to rebuke his disciples, but Jesus answered them: ”I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’

In a few days, the people of Jerusalem would accuse him of treason and ask for his death. During the Holy Week, we remember Jesus’ passion, which ended in his death on the cross. On this Palm Sunday, we read the Passion according to Luke. During the Last Supper, Jesus gave the meaning of his death as the sacrifice of the New Covenant, in which his blood is poured out for us. Then Jesus announced his betrayal by one of them. For a while, they questioned themselves who would do such a thing, but they did not seem too concerned with such matters. They had more pressing problems, disputing among them who would be the greatest. Jesus had to scold them, presenting himself as the “one who serves”. After the Last Supper, he went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives. There, while in prayer, he went through terrible moments of anguish but accepted the Father’s will, being ready to drink the cup of suffering to the full. Betrayed by Judas, who knew where Jesus was passing the night, he was arrested and treated like a brigand. In Jesus’ arrest, we can see the “reign of darkness” showing its power and dominion. Taken to the high priest’s house,  he was insulted, mocked and beaten. While there, Simon Peter denied Jesus and then repented, weeping bitterly. Early in the morning, he was presented to the assembly of the elders of the people, the chief priests and the scribes for a summary trial in which he was found guilty of blasphemy. He was taken immediately to Pilate, the Roman governor, and accused of treason. Despite not being convinced of his guilt, Pilate sentenced him to death on the cross.

Luke’s gospel is considered the gospel of God’s mercy, and that mercy is shown in Jesus’ attitudes and words. Jesus addressed a group of women weeping for him and consoled them. Then, crucified on the cross, Jesus asked forgiveness for all those who were involved in his killing: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.” One of the criminals crucified with him recognised his sin and asked Jesus to remember him. And Jesus assured him of salvation: “Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Then, in a last effort, he “cried out in a loud voice”, saying: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Jesus remained faithful to the end, thus overcoming the power of darkness and evil. 

As we follow Jesus’ steps to the Calvary, we are made to realise his great love. 

Being divine, 

“Christ Jesus did not cling

to his equality with God

but emptied himself

to assume the condition of a slave

and became as men are;

and being as all men are,

he was humbler yet,

even to accepting death,

death on a cross.”

Before such a mystery, we remain silent, short of words,

contemplating the tortured face of Christ, who died for us to set us free, reconciling us with God and restoring in us his divine image.