PALM SUNDAYTHE PASSION ACCORDING TO LUKE

Jesus, truly innocent

1. the Agony in the Garden His sweat became like great drops of blood....For Mark, theclimax of the anguish of the suffering Jesus is when he criesout in abandonment on the cross. For Luke, the anguish isconcentrated instead in the agony in the Garden. Jesus facesthe suffering in Gethsemane and then goes forward calmly.

2. Moment of death“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”. Instead offorsakenness we have peaceful acceptance. Then ”Heexpired’: one word in the Greek - the same word as Mark:“exepneusen’.

3. Moment of dramaJesus is brought past where Peter is, warming himself in thecourtyard. “The Lord turned and looked at Peter” (Lk22:61). The eyes of Jesus recognise the reality of Peter’sbetrayal, but they are eyes of compassion, of healing andforgiveness. No wonder Peter went out and wept.

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4. Compassion and forgivenessRemember Lk 15: lost sheep, lost coin, lost son.a) In the garden: disciples sleeping, because of grief.

(Luke gives them an excuse.) Jesus healed the ear ofthe high priest’s servant.

b) Jesus comforts the women.c) “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.d) The good thief: “Today you will be with me in

Paradise”.

6. The role of women“All his acquaintances, including the women who hadfollowed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watchingthese things”. (Lk 23:49). The women see his burial, returnto prepare spices, and are the first witnesses of theresurrection. Luke, more than any other evangelist,recognises the role of women.

7. The road to EmmausRecognising the risen Christ. For Luke, the Resurrection isnot just a piece of past history, but something to berecognised in the present, as disciples encounter the RisenChrist.

5. Jesus truly innocenta) Pilate says three times: “I find no case against him”.

Neither does Herod.b) At the death of Jesus, the centurion said: “Certainly

this man was innocent”.

THE PASSION ACCORDING TO JOHNJesus reigns in glory on the Cross

2. Unity of ChristThe second image is the undivided garment of Jesus, forwhich the soldiers cast lots. This symbolically connects withthe priestly prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper (Jn 17), wherehe prays for the unity of his followers so that the world maybelieve.G

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The Passion narrative in the gospel of John is totallydifferent from the Passion narratives in the othergospels. John gives us a mystical reflection, unboundedby physical historical limitations, based on a series oficon-like images or tableaux. At the heart of John’sPassion narrative - (John 19: 17 - 37), there are five ofthese tableaux:

1. Christ as KingPilate mocks Jesus by calling him King of the Jews, but by adouble irony those who believe know that Jesus truly isKing. In the end the title, Jesus of Nazareth, King of theJews is placed on the cross, and Pilate stands by it: ‘What Ihave written, I have written’.

3. Mary, Mother of the ChurchAt the very centre of the five tableaux is the image of Jesuson the cross giving his mother Mary to the beloved disciple,and therefore to all of us who are beloved disciples. InJohn’s gospel, the Church is born at the moment of the deathof Jesus on the cross, and Mary is present as mother of allbeloved disciples: mother of the Church. There is a beautifulIrish phrase from the 8th century: Muire, máthair nahEaglaise neamhaí agus talúnda - Mary, mother of theheavenly and earthly Church.

GOOD FRIDAY

The Passion according to John

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4. Jesus gives the SpiritIn John’s Passion narrative, the moment of death of Jesusis presented as the moment of Pentecost. As the spongewith the vinegar is offered to Jesus, the text doesn’tsimply say ‘He expired’ as in Mark and Luke, but‘Paredoken to pneuma’ - he gave the gift of the Spirit.There is an equivalent in Irish: Bhronn sé an Spiorad.

5. The water and the bloodThe fifth symbolic image is the piercing of the side ofChrist by the spear and the water and the blood flowingforth. In John’s gospel, water is associated with the Spirit,and blood with redemption. In the early Church, the waterwas linked with Baptism, and the blood with theEucharist: the sources of the sacramental life of theChurch. This is beautifully expressed in the homily of St.John Chrysostom which is read in the prayer of theChurch on Good Friday morning.

Note: The Passion according to John is reflected in the great Irish Scripture crosses, and uniquely

in the Maghera Crucifixion, Co. Derry.