But the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all. (Is 53:6)
“He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom people hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem.
Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured,
while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.
We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all.
...through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.
Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses. ”
Psalm 31 reveals the heart of David, the Messiah-King under persecution. David begins by stating he has placed his trust in God:
“In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me.
Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.”
David then speaks of his sufferings: he is laughed at by his neighbours, and his friends flee from him. Still, David abandons himself to God, and ends by calling everyone to “Take courage and be stouthearted, all you who trust in the Lord.” David's unwavering trust in God throughout his time of anguish is a model for us in our own dark nights of misunderstanding, persecution and suffering. More importantly, it prophetically directs us to Jesus, Who suffers in body and in soul, under the horrific burden of uniting Himself to the world's sin, and abandoning Himself to the Father, offering Himself up in death as the price for our redemption.
The
second reading (Heb
4:14-16; 5:7-9
) reminds us that Jesus is the “great high priest who has passed
through the heavens, ...the Son of God.” He understands and
sympathizes with our “weaknesses” because He has endured them
Himself, without sin. Like David, who foreshadows Jesus,
“[H]e
offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the
one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of
his reverence...” As
Son of God, “[H]e
became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
The Gospel today is St. John's account of the passion of our Lord. John's understanding of Jesus (John's theology) comes to the fore. Jesus is God the Son, the Eternal Word made flesh. Three times He responds “I AM” to temple guards asking if He is Jesus of Nazareth (the second time, they fall to the ground at the power of His Name).
Jesus is the heavenly High Priest, Who rebukes an earthly high priest Annas – father-in-law of Caiphas, High Priest that year:
“The high priest [Annas] questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, 'I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said.'”
He is the Heavenly King, and admits as much to Pilate:
“Jesus
answered, 'My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom
did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me
from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not
here.'”
Jesus
is Lord of Truth: “Everyone
who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate fails to comprehend any truth other than that which changes
with the wind of politics and influence: “Pilate
said to him, 'What is truth?'”
Jesus
is the Just Judge, through Whom all just judgements are dispensed
from Father above:
“So
Pilate said to him, 'Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I
have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?'
Jesus
answered him, “You would have no power over me if it had not been
given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over
to you has the greater sin.”
Notwithstanding the above, Jesus is the betrayed Suffering Servant Messiah-King, the Lamb slain for our sins. Like the paschal lamb, none of His bones are broken. With His dying breath, Jesus says, "It is finished." A lance pierces His side; blood and water pour forth. When Passover sacrifices in the Temple are complete, the priests will douse the altar of sacrifice; blood and water will flow out the drainage grates at the side of the Temple.
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, for by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Link to readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041522.cfm
Comments
Post a Comment