PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD : 10th April 2022

Why did Jesus not resist? He certainly had the power to escape his suffering, and in the Garden of Gethsemane scene, it was clear that He did not want to die. He did not resist because He wanted to follow the will of God more than anything else. That was the motive for the suffering  servant in Isaiah, and it was at work in the Passion story.

To react in a typically human way would have been playing according to the world’s rules, but Jesus witnessed to those from heaven. He responded with patience, courage, and love – as well as complete trust in God the Father. He was willing to give Himself away for the sake of humanity, and it is this extreme self-giving love that was the source of His exaltation and glorification.

His mission was to witness to justice, compassion, forgiveness, and love, while challenging how humans think and act. Doing this put Him on a collision course with the world, and His death was inevitable. But His death was a consequence of His mission, not the mission itself. Violence and suffering alone are not good – only how we respond to it can make it something positive.

In Luke’s version of the Passion, Jesus totally witnessed these principles. He forgave His executioners, as well as the repentant thief at His side, from the cross. Even the Roman centurion proclaimed His innocence and righteousness.

Lord, help me to follow the example of Jesus in His suffering.