The Moment
That Changed the World
Meditations on Holy Week
Reflecting on Those Who Were There
Description:
A three-hour mini retreat to take place between 9 PM and midnight on Holy Thursday. Nine personas will be used as lenses to gain insight into the events of our Lord’s passion, death and resurrection:
I. Judas
II. Peter
III. Pontius Pilate
IV. Simon of Cyrene
V. “Dismas,” the Good Thief
VI. Joseph of Arimathea
VII. Mary Magdalene
VIII. Mary and the Beloved Disciple
IX. Jesus
Each persona will be discussed for twenty minutes in the following manner:
[A] an extended Bible reading relevant to their perspective;
[B] a reflection on the events of the Paschal Mystery through their persona;
[C] a hymn inspired by their viewpoint.
The spirituality of this retreat is reflective of the Chaldean and Assyrian Church of the East, being deeply Biblical in nature, and utilizing some of her hymns and insights.
* * *
St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral
El Cajon, CA
Holy Thursday, April 5, 2007
The Moment that Changed the World
I. Judas
Bible Reading
[Luke 22: 1-6, 14-23, 47-53]
Now the feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death; for they feared the people.
Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he accepted, and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd…
And when the hour came, Jesus sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!" And they began to question one another, which of them it was that would do this…
[In the garden,] while Jesus was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?" And when those who were about him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, the hour of the power of darkness."
Reflection
- The Lord and Redeemer being sold for silver – how shameful for Judas! How unreasonable and ridiculous, to betray the Lord for money! And after such intimacy with him, such deep love shown! Of what little value is silver compared to such a friendship with the Lord?
- But we should note that, “they began to question one another, which of them it was that would do this.” The apostles realized that any one of them could have been the one to betray Christ, to sell him for money. Each one of them was weak and sinful. They doubted even themselves.
- We too are as weak and sinful as the apostles were at that moment. Any one of us could betray Christ to his death, and in fact we have, because he died for our sins. We have sold him to his death, and we continue to do the same every time we sin. Every one of our sins is a silver piece that is offered for us to betray our Lord, to give him over to death.
- Pleasure, money, honor, and fame are worthless things offered to us, which we take in exchange for our friendship with God whenever we commit sin.
- Yes, it was shameful for Judas to sell his Lord, but it is no less shameful for us! We have also sold our Lord for sin.
- The following hymn is about Judas, but it is not meant to instill our rage against him. It is meant to help us realize what we have done in participating in the Lord’s death. As we read the events of Christ’s life in this context, in the context of what we have done to him, let us allow our hearts to be softened by the grace of Christ.
- Each verse of the hymn should be read with our name in the place of Judas’s.
Hymn
Judas, Were You not Ashamed?
Let all the people say, “amen, amen.”
On this night, our Lord broke his Body for his disciples in the upper room, when he ate the Passover and revealed his Mysteries to them, the Memorial of his Coming and his love for them.
When he wanted to show the guile of the deceiver, he said before all of them: “One of you is going to betray me.”
Sorrow, disturbance and trembling fell upon the disciples, and they looked at each other.
They began to beg our Lord, with mournful tears, as they said:
Tell us, O Master, and our true Shepherd: who will betray you and separate you from us?
The Lord indicated to them that “the one who dips his hand with me into the bowl and eats, he is the one who is to betray me, separating me from you.”
The disciples arose and began to put Judas, the defiled one, to shame:
Judas, were you not ashamed by him whose conception was announced by the head of the angels?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him whose birth moved the Magi to come and honor him?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who was baptized in the Jordan by John, and who sanctified all springs?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who made water into wine in Cana, which you drank and enjoyed?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who gave the paralytic the power to walk, who went away rejoicing?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who opened the eyes of the blind man with spittle from his mouth?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who revealed hidden things to the Samaritan woman, and converted her to his flock?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who cleansed ten lepers with a word from his mouth?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who forgave the sins of the adulteress with a simple command?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who quickened the dead man who was rotting for four days?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who humbled Satan and justified our race by his fasting?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him whom the children praised with “hosanna” and to whom they cried out glory?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who moved the children in Jerusalem to come out and honor him?
Judas, were you not ashamed by the hands of the Chosen one which washed your feet, and whom you handed over to death?
Judas, were you not ashamed by the Passover you ate among the disciples before our Lord?
Judas, were you not ashamed by him who cursed the fig tree, making it wither in that hour?
Let us, O children of the Church, give woe to Judas the deceiver!
Woe to you, Judas, who did not obey his commands, and who abandoned his will!
Woe to you, Judas, when the King dawns and commands delight for the just, the sons of light!
Woe to you, Judas, when he opens up his treasury to give gifts to the prosperous workers!
Woe to you, Judas, who fell from grace, and from the group of apostles!
Woe to you, Judas, who was dethroned of his seat, and who became a stranger to the glorious kingdom!
Woe to you, Judas, who inherited darkness, and unending fire!
Woe to you, Judas, from the Church on earth and in heaven!
Let us all lift up glory and honor, thanksgiving and adoration, to the King full of mercies!
Halleluiah, halleluiah! Glory to you, O Lord, and hope and life to us!
Great are your Mysteries, O Lord, and adorable your Mercies; blessed your Honor from your glorious abode!
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ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ، ܝܗܘܼܖܵܐ
ܢܹܐܡܲܪ. ܒܗܵܢ ܠܸܠܝܵܐ ܩܨܵܐ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ. ܡܵܪܲܢ ܒܥܸܠܝܼܬܼܵܐ. ܦܲܓܼܪܹܗ ܠܬܲܠܡܝܼܖܵܘ̈ܗܝ. ܘܡ̣ܢ ܕܐܸܟܲܠ ܦܸܨܚܵܐ. ܘܲܓܠܵܐ ܠܗܘܿܢ ܐ̄ܪ̈ܵܙܵܘܗܝ. ܘܥܘܼܗܕܵܢ ܡܹܐܬܼܝܼܬܹܗ. ܘܚܘܼܒܹܗ ܕܲܠܘܵܬܼܗܘܿܢ
܀ ܘܟܲܖ ܨܒܼܵܐ ܕܲܢܦܲܪܣܹܝܘܗܝ. ܠܢܸܟܼܠܹܗ ܕܙܹܐܦܵܢܵܐ. ܐܸܡܲܪ ܩܖܵܡ ܟܠܗܘܿܢ. ܕܚܲܖ ܡܸܢܟܼܘܿܢ ܡܫܲܠܸܡ ܠܝܼ
܀ ܘܢܸܦܠܲܬ̤ ܟܲܪܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ. ܘܙܲܘܥܵܐ ܘܲܪܬܹܝܬܼܵܐ. ܒܲܝܢܵܬܼ ܬܲܠܡܝܼ̈ܖܹܐ. ܘܚܵܪܘ ܗ̄ܘܵܘ ܒܲܚܖܵܖܹ̈ܐ
܀ ܘܫܲܪܝܼ ܡܦܝܼܣܝܼܢ ܠܹܗ. ܒܕܸܡ̈ܥܹܐ ܚܢܝܼ̈ܓܼܵܬܼܵܐ. ܠܡܵܪܲܢ ܟܲܖ ܐܵܡܪܝܼܢ
܀ ܐܸܡܲܪ ܠܲܢ ܪܲܒܲܢ. ܘܪܵܥܝܲܢ ܫܲܪܝܼܪܵܐ. ܕܡܲܢܘܼ ܕܡܲܫܠܸܡ ܠܵܟܼ. ܘܦܵܪܹܫ ܠܵܟܼ ܡܸܢܲܢ
܀ ܘܲܪܡܲܙ ܠܗܘܿܢ ܡܵܪܲܢ. ܗܵܘ ܕܨܵܒܲܥ ܐܝܼܖܹܗ. ܥܲܡܝ ܒܠܲܓܬܼܵܐ ܘܐܵܟܹܠ. ܗܘ̤ܝܘܼ ܕܡܲܫܠܸܡ ܠܝܼ. ܘܦܵܪܹܫ ܠܝܼ ܡܸܢܟܼܘܿܢ
܀ ܘܩܵܡܘ ܗ̄ܘܵܘ ܬܲܠܡܝܼ̈ܖܹܐ. ܘܡܲܒܼܗ̱ܬܼܝܼܢ ܗ̄ܘܵܘ ܠܹܗ. ܠܲܝܗܘܼܖܵܐ ܛܲܢܦܵܐ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܐܸܣܬܲܒܲܪ. ܒܲܛܢܵܐ ܕܡܲܘܠܵܖܹܗ. ܡ̣ܢ ܪܹܫ ܡܲܠܲܐܟܹ̈ܐ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܲܒܝܲܠܕܹܗ. ܐܲܙܝܼܥ ܠܲܡܓܼܘܼܫܹ̈ܐ. ܕܢܹܐܬܼܘܿܢ ܠܐܝܼܩܵܪܹܗ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܲܒܝܘܿܪܕܢܵܢ. ܥܡܲܖ ܡ̣ܢ ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ. ܘܩܲܕܸܫ ܠܡܲܒܘܼܥܹ̈ܐ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܲܒܩܵܛܢܹܐ. ܡܲܝ̈ܵܐ ܥܒܲܖ ܚܲܡܪܵܐ. ܘܐܸܫܬܝܼܬ ܘܐܸܬܼܒܲܣܲܡܬ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܠܲܡܫܲܪܝܵܐ. ܝܲܗܒܼ ܠܹܗ ܗܲܠ̈ܟܼܵܬܼܵܐ. ܘܐܸܙܲܠ ܟܲܖ ܚܵܖܹܐ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܲܠܣܲܡܝܵܐ. ܦܲܬܲܚ ܠܹܗ ܥܲܝܢܵܘ̈ܗܝ. ܒܪܘܼܩܵܐ ܕܡ̣ܢ ܦܘܼܡܹܗ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܲܠܫܵܡܪܵܝܬܵܐ. ܓܠܵܐ ܠܵܗ̇ ܟܲܣ̈ܝܵܬܼܵܐ. ܘܐܲܦܢ̱ܝܵܗ̇ ܠܲܛܝܵܪܹܗ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܖܲܟܝܼ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ. ܠܲܥܣܲܪܬܵܐ ܕܓܲܪ̈ܒܹܐ. ܒܡܸܠܬܼܵܐ ܕܡ̣ܢ ܦܘܼܡܹܗ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܲܫܒܲܩ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ. ܚܲܘ̈ܒܹܐ ܕܙܵܢܝܼܬܼܵܐ. ܒܪܸܡܙܵܐ ܩܲܠܝܼܠܵܐ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܐܲܚܝܼ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ. ܠܡܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܲܣܪܝܼ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ. ܒܲܪ ܐܲܪܒܥܵܐ ܝܲܘ̈ܡܝܼܢ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܲܒܨܲܘܡܹܗ. ܫܲܦܠܹܗ ܠܣܵܛܵܢܵܐ. ܘܙܲܟܝܹܗ ܠܲܟܝܵܢܲܢ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܩܲܠܣܘܼܗܝ ܗ̄ܘܵܘ. ܫܲܒܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܒܐܘܿܫܲܥܢܹ̈ܐ. ܘܲܩܥܵܘ ܠܹܗ ܫܘܼܒܼܚܵܐ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܒܐܘܿܪܸܫܠܸܡ. ܐܲܙܝܼܥ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ ܠܫܲܒܼܪܹ̈ܐ. ܘܲܢܦܲܩܘ ܠܐܝܼܩܵܪܹܗ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܐܝܼܖܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܕܓܲܒܼܝܵܐ. ܕܐܲܫܝܼܓܼ ܠܵܟܼ ܪܸ̈ܓܼܠܲܝܟ. ܘܐܲܫܠܸܡܬܵܝܗܝ ܠܡܲܘܬܵܐ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܦܸܨܚܵܐ ܕܐܸܟܲܠܬ. ܒܲܝܢܵܬܼ ܬܲܠܡܝܼ̈ܖܹܐ. ܩܖܵܡܵܘܗܝ ܕܦܵܪܘܿܩܲܢ
܀ ܠܵܐ ܒܗܸܬܬ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܘ ܕܲܠܬܹܬܼܵܐ. ܠܵܛܵܗ̇ ܒܦܘܼܩܕܵܢܹܗ. ܘܝܸܒܼܫܲܬ̤ ܒܲܪ ܫܵܥܬܹܗ
܀ ܘܲܚܢܲܢ ܒܢܲܝ̈ ܥܹܕܬܵܐ. ܘܵܝܵܐ ܢܸܬܸܠ ܠܹܗ. ܠܲܝܗܘܼܖܵܐ ܢܟܼܝܼܠܵܐ
܀ ܘܵܝܠܵܟܼ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܕܠܵܐ ܢܛܲܪܬ ܦܘܼܩܕܵܢܵܘ̈ܗܝ. ܘܫܲܡܠܝܼܬ ܨܸܒܼܝܵܢܹܗ
܀ ܘܵܝܠܵܟܼ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡܵܐ ܕܖܵܢܲܚ ܡܲܠܟܵܐ. ܘܦܵܩܹܖ ܒܘܼܣܵܡܵܐ. ܠܟܹܐܢܹ̈ܐ ܒܢܲܝ̈ ܢܘܼܗܪܵܐ
܀ ܘܵܝܠܵܟܼ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡܵܐ ܕܦܲܬܲܚ ܓܲܙܹܗ. ܠܡܸܬܲܠ ܠܗܘܿܢ ܕܲܫܢܹ̈ܐ. ܠܦܲܥ̈ܠܹܐ ܟܲܫܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ
܀ ܘܵܝܠܵܟܼ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܕܲܢܦܲܠܬ ܡ̣ܢ ܛܘܼܒܼܵܐ. ܘܣܸܖܪܹ̈ܐ ܕܲܫܠܝܼ̈ܚܹܐ
܀ ܘܵܝܠܵܟܼ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܕܐܸܣܬܚܸܦܬ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܘܼܪܣܝܵܟܼ. ܘܲܗ̤ܘܲܝܬ ܢܘܼܟܼܪܵܝܵܐ. ܠܡܲܠܟܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܫܒܼܝܼܚܬܵܐ
܀ ܘܵܝܠܵܟܼ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܕܝܼܪܸܬܬ ܚܸܫܘܿܟܼܵܐ. ܘܢܘܼܪܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܕܵܥܟܵܐ
܀ ܘܵܝܠܵܟܼ ܝܼܗܘܼܖܵܐ. ܡ̣ܢ ܥܹܕܬܵܐ ܕܒܲܐܪܥܵܐ. ܘܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܝܜ ܕܒܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ
܀ ܫܘܼܒܼܚܵܐ ܘܐܝܼܩܵܪܵܐ. ܘܬܵܘܕܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܘܣܸܓܼܕܬܼܵܐ. ܢܲܣܸܩ ܠܹܗ ܟ̱ܠܲܢ. ܠܡܲܠܟܲܢ ܡܠܸܐ ܪ̈ܲܚܡܹܐ
܀ ܐܹܗܲܠܸܠܘܼܝܵܐ ܐܹܗܲܠܸܠܘܼܝܵܐ. ܠܵܟܼ ܡܵܪܝ ܬܸܫܒܘܿܚܬܵܐ. ܘܠܲܢ ܣܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܘܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ
܀ ܪܲܘܪ̱ܒܼܝܼܢ ܡܵܪܝ ܐ̄ܪ̈ܵܙܲܝܟ. ܘܲܣܓܼܝܼܖܝܼܢ ܪ̈ܲܚܡܲܝܟ. ܘܲܒܪܝܼܟܼ ܐܝܼܩܵܪܵܟܼ. ܡ̣ܢ ܐܲܬܼܪܵܟܼ ܡܫܲܒܚܵܐ. |
II. Peter
Bible Reading
[Mark 14: 22-42, 66-72]
And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away; for it is written, `I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." But he said vehemently, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same.
And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I pray." And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch." And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what you will." And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."…
And [as Jesus was being struck by the guards], while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high priest came; and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he went out into the gateway. And the maid saw him, and began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." But again he denied it. And after a little while again the bystanders said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean." But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak." And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.
Reflection
- As we share the blame with Judas for betraying the Lord with our sins, so do we share the bitter weeping of Peter for denying him.
- We are called to preach his Name to all the world, and to proclaim on rooftops what we have heard in secret. Do we follow his command? Or are we ashamed of the Gospel?
- Are we willing to face shame or embarrassment for being associated with Christ? Or do we deny him before others, even with our silence?
- Even worse, do we act as he taught us to act, or even by our actions do we deny that we are followers of Christ? Do we tell the world that “we do not know him?”
- By our lifestyle we deny him in this way even after all he did for us on this day, as Peter denied him even as it was happening.
- How powerful an experience it must have been to have Jesus bring you with him as he went into the garden to pray and weep! What an honor! And yet Peter and the other two repeatedly fell asleep.
- What about now? Is it not an equal honor to be called by the Holy Spirit to be in this Church, with the same Christ present in the Eucharist? And how awake are we?
- But where Judas betrayed Christ and remained unrepentant, Peter repented with bitter weeping. Though he had fallen asleep earlier, he woke up when he heard the cock crow.
- It is time to wake up and realize what we have done in denying Christ in our words and actions. It is time to wake up and weep for our sins.
Hymn
Have Pity on me, Pitying One!
Have pity on me, Pitying One; have pity on me, Merciful One.
[Hunayn, Hannana; Hunayn, Mle Rahme.]
Brethren, I look into the Scriptures and I am filled with sadness: when our Savior was suffering, Kepa wept in agony (firstly, because they had crucified his Master, but also because he had denied him), as he cried out in anguish: “My toil has gone in vain, for I have denied my Lord!”
“Woe is me!” he cried in the foyer of the house of Caiaphas, “for I have become a stranger to the Son whom I denied. He named me Rock, and I have become dust; but he shall not build his Church on dust! I have despised my very self!”
“He called me ‘blessed’ when it was revealed by his Father, and I told him ‘you are the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One.’ To whom can I plead to intercede with his Father? For he will certainly not accept me unless I am with his Son. I am at fault forever!” |
ܚܘܼܢܲܝܢܝ ܚܲܢܵܢܵܐ
ܚܘܼܢܲܝܢܝ ܚܲܢܵܢܵܐ. ܚܘܼܢܲܝܢܝ ܡܠܸܐ ܪ̈ܲܚܡܹܐ.
ܐܲܚܲܝ̈ ܒܲܟܬܼܵܒܹ̈ܐ ܚܵܪܹܬܼ ܘܐܸܬܼܡܠܝܼܬܼ ܚܲܫܵܐ ܟܲܖ ܚܲܫ ܦܵܪܘܿܩܲܢ. ܟܹܐܦܵܐ ܒܚܲܫܵܐ ܒܵܟܹܐ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ. ܚܖܵܐ ܕܲܠܪܲܒܹܗ ܨܠܲܒܼܘ. ܐ̄ܚܪܹܬܼܵܐ ܕܲܟܦܲܪ ܒܹܗ. ܟܲܖ ܩܵܥܹܐ ܒܚܲܫܵܐ. ܕܠܹܐܘܲܬܼܝ ܐܵܘܒܸܖܬܵܗ̇. ܕܲܒܡܵܪܝ ܗܵܐ ܟܸܦܪܹܬܼ
ܘܵܝ ܠܝܼ ܩܵܥܹܐ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ ܒܣܸܦܵܐ ܕܒܹܝܬܼ ܩܲܝܵܦܵܐ. ܕܲܗܘܹܝܬܼ ܢܘܼܟܼܪܵܝܵܐ ܠܲܒܪܵܐ ܕܟܸܦܪܹܬܼ ܒܹܗ. ܟܹܐܦܵܐ ܫܲܡܗܲܢܝ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ. ܘܲܗܘܹܝܬܼ ܠܝܼ ܚܵܠܵܐ. ܘܥܹܕܬܹܗ ܥܲܠ ܚܲܠܵܐ. ܠܵܐ ܬܘܼܒܼ ܒܵܢܹܐ ܠܵܗ̇. ܐܸܢܵܐ ܩܢܘܿܡܝ ܐܲܣܠܝܼܬܼ
ܛܘܼܒܼܵܐ ܝܲܗ̄ܒܼ ܗ̄ܘܵܐ ܠܝܼ. ܟܲܖ ܡ̣ܢ ܐܲܒܘܼܗܝ ܝܸܠܦܹܬܼ. ܘܐܸܡܪܹܬܼ ܠܹܗ ܕܐܲܢ̄ܬܘܼ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ ܒܪܹܗ ܕܲܡܒܲܪܟܼܵܐ. ܠܡܲܢܘܼ ܟܲܝ ܐܲܦܝܼܣ ܕܲܢܦܝܼܣ ܠܝܵܠܘܿܖܹܗ. ܕܠܵܐ ܬܘܼܒܼ ܡܩܲܒܸܠ ܠܝܼ ܒܸܠܥܵܖ ܡ̣ܢ ܝܲܠܕܹܗ. ܚܵܒܹܬܼ ܘܲܠܥܵܠܲܡ. |
III. Pontius Pilate
Bible Reading
[John 18: 28-19: 16]
Then they led Jesus from the house of Ca'iaphas to the praetorium. It was early. They themselves did not enter the praetorium, so that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered him, "If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death." This was to fulfill the word which Jesus had spoken to show by what death he was to die.
Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told them, "I find no crime in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover; will you have me release for you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barab'bas!" Now Barab'bas was a robber.
Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again, and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you, that you may know that I find no crime in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God."
When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." Upon this Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar."
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gab'batha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
Reflection
- Pontius Pilate, a government official, was a successful man in the eyes of the world. His personality is revealed most, however, in his question to Jesus: “What is truth?”
- To “climb” in worldly success is not in itself a bad thing. To have money and power and use them for God’s glory is not only good but expected of every Christian who has them.
- But when the “climb” involves dishonesty of any kind, then the soul begins to degenerate, to rot. The noble goals it had at the beginning are forgotten, and the only end becomes the continuous accumulation of wealth and power. The truth is sacrificed and lost.
- How far has Pilate gone, if he has to ask the question “What is truth?”!!! How deeply has he fallen! It probably began with a single lie, or a single misleading comment. Then, day after day, year after year, the lies mounted and dishonesty became a mightier and mightier habit.
- How far have we fallen? How deep is our dishonesty? If it is at the beginning, our hope is great indeed. God’s grace is abundant. We can end it now, before it consumes us.
- But what if we are closer to Pilate that we would admit? What if our dishonesty is so consuming that it has destroyed us entirely? What if we do not even know what the truth is anymore? Then we have, by this dishonesty, contributed to the death of our Lord, despite every warning and every opportunity to turn back.
- It is not too late. “Unless you return and become like children, you will not see the Kingdom of God.” Our Lord gives us the grace, the power, to return to our original innocence, our original honesty, and to know that He is the Truth.
Hymn – Ah, Holy Jesus
Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,
that man to judge thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected, O most afflicted!
Who was the guilty who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hast undone thee.
'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee; I crucified thee!
Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;
for man's atonement, while he nothing heedeth, God intercedeth.
For me, kind Jesus, was thine incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life's oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion, for my salvation.
Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving, not my deserving.
IV. Simon of Cyrene
Bible Reading
[Luke 23: 26-31]
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyre'ne, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, `Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, `Fall on us'; and to the hills, `Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
Reflection
- Simon was a bystander. He was minding his own business when he was pressed into service to carry someone else’s cross.
- But what an honor it was! To carry the cross of the Savior of the world! To have such a meaningful role in the salvation of the human race!
- It is quite possible that Simon was bothered and irritated when he was first told to help Jesus. But with an open heart and the grace that was being poured out upon the world at that moment, we can expect that he would have had some realization, by the end, of what he just did, and whom he just helped.
- But what about us who believe in Christ as our God and Creator? Would we be so open-minded? Would we let our bitterness subside and allow ourselves to realize that we just helped our Lord?
- Simon carried the cross of Christ – a cross suited to our Lord, hand-crafted with him in mind, not Simon. Yet he carried it.
- We are asked to carry our own cross, not that of Christ. Our cross, no matter what it is, must be so much lighter than the one that Simon carried, and yet we grumble against God because of it.
- God gives us crosses to carry – difficulties in life, in work, in family, in our own souls – for our salvation. God prepares us a cross that is perfectly suited to our soul, a weight precisely balanced to make us stronger when we carry it, but not so heavy as to break our backs. God measures it perfectly, and we believe in him and say that we trust him.
- And yet we grumble and complain, telling God that it is too heavy for us, too irritating, too painful, too annoying, as if we knew better than He!
- If only we were worthy to help Christ carry his cross! Rather, the contrary is true. We cannot lift even our own without his help.
Hymn – O Cross of Christ, Immortal Tree
O Cross of Christ, immortal tree
On which our Savior died,
The world is sheltered by your arms
That bore the Crucified.
From bitter death and barren wood
the tree of life is made;
Its branches bear unfailing fruit
And leaves that never fade.
O faithful Cross, you stand unmoved
While ages run their course;
Foundation of the universe,
Creation’s minding force.
Give glory to the risen Christ
And to his Cross give praise,
The sign of God's unfailing love,
The hope of all our days.
V. “Dismas,” the Good Thief
Bible Reading
[Luke 23: 32-43]
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.
And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Reflection
- The root of all sin is pride, the attitude that we are somehow greater than what God made us to be, and even greater than God himself. Any sin, from the smallest to the greatest, is an offence against the law of God, and it implies that we think we know better than he does.
- But despite our pride, God does not abandon us to the punishment we justly deserve. He offers us constantly the salvation of his Son. He offers this to us at every moment, no matter what we have done in our past, no matter how heavy or wicked or disgusting our sins.
- Despair is the sin of giving up on the possibility of salvation. When we despair, for example after thinking about all the sins we have committed in our life and their gravity, or after trying so hard to break a bad habit and falling again into it, we give in to the temptation to abandon the hope of salvation, because our sins are so great.
- This too is pride. There is no sin in the world, and no amount of sin, that is too great for God to forgive in his mercy. Despair is saying “my sins are so great that they are greater even than God.” It seems ridiculous to say it, and it is ridiculous to believe.
- Not only is God so great that he can forgive any sin in a moment, he is so loving that he chases after us, sending grace after grace, if only to let us turn back to him so that he can forgive us, embrace us with his loving arms, and carry us back to our home in his heart.
- The criminal who was crucified next to Christ probably lived a life full of wickedness, and had only a few moments left before his death and judgment.
- But in these few moments he turned to his Lord and was saved by the powerful command of Christ.
- Whatever are our sins, Christ is waiting nearby to forgive us and to offer us his salvation.
- In fact, Christ was so concerned with forgiveness being offered to mankind that he gave the power to forgive sins to his apostles, and he works through them until today, in the priests of the Church.
- He continues to wait today for each one of us, in the heart of the priest who sits in the confessional.
Hymn – (Parce Domine, parce populo tuo: ne in aeternum irascaris nobis.)
“Spare thy people, Lord, spare thy people; see us here before thee; be not angry, Lord, with thy people forever.”
VI. Joseph of Arimathea
Bible Reading
[Luke 23: 44-56]
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.
Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.
Now there was a man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their purpose and deed, and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid; then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Reflection
- The Blood of Christ having been spilled upon the ground of the hill called Golgotha, the ground having shook, the sun having hidden itself in sorrow, all that is left is a corpse nailed to a piece of wood and a dreadful silence. The moment that changed the world.
- Imagine being there in that stillness, watching the crowd slowly disperse after the death of the Messiah. The stillness of a hospital room after the death of a loved one is enough to silence anyone, but here the stillness is different. The body is not sterilized and stretched out on a white bed. It is mutilated and sickening to behold, hanging barely by what strands are left of its constitution by splinters and rusted metal nails. But to the wise, to those who have the grace to know, this dead body is united perfectly, even now, to Divinity itself.
- We do not know if this Joseph, a Jewish leader, had any clear idea that Christ was the Messiah he was waiting for. Most likely, after watching him die, he had given up that hope, as did many others, including some of the apostles. But even in this darkness and this doubt, he remembered the word of the Lord: “Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath day.” No work, no burial on Saturday. The body must come down now. Using his connections, he arranged for the body to be taken down.
- Poetic flare and historical hindsight make it a remarkable scene. Movie makers and sculptors draw out the tenderness of Mary’s touch and tears, the gentleness of John the Beloved, the awe of Joseph of Arimathea, in approaching the body of their Lord. But if there was ever a time when it was true to say, “blessed are they who believe but do not see,” this was it. The natural eye was blinded by black tragedy. Only the eye of faith could see beauty here, or providence, or meaning.
- Joseph dutifully wrapped the body in a linen cloth and placed it in a tomb. He was a good and righteous man, and he did this good deed out of his goodness and out of respect for the Law of Moses.
- But we have the eyes of faith, and can see more deeply what is happening. The Corpse of the Son of God being taken down after accomplishing the salvation of the world was not an ordinary piece of matter, like any other grouping of molecules anywhere else in the world, and at any other time. This is the Divine Body, drained of its Blood and separated from it; one reverently being taken down from the cross, the other spilled at its foot. How awesome is this place. How powerful. How real.
- There is a similar silence in the Church at night, after all have left. The lights are turned off as the sun was darkened, and the Body of the Lord is reserved in the tabernacle. No natural or skeptical eye could have seen the significance of Christ’s Body being taken down and wrapped in linen. No eye without faith could have known what was happening, and what it was that was being placed in the tomb. But the eye of faith can see the truth, the reality: the Body of Christ that was taken down from that cross is now before us in the tabernacle of the church, except now united both to the Blood and to the Soul of Christ, perfect and complete, mystically present under the appearance of bread. How awesome must it have been to take Christ’s body and wrap it in linen for burial! How reverent must Joseph have been, how trembling his hands! And how should we be when we approach the Eucharist at Communion?
Hymn – Godhead Here in Hiding (Adoro Te Devote)
Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore,
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.
Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived:
How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;
What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.
On the cross thy godhead made no sign to men,
