GOSPEL MATTERS: Through death comes life

Dr Christine Wood, Director of Evangelisation & Catechesis

Jesus endured every kind of suffering that can touch us in this life. He was afflicted by Jews, Gentiles, the chief priests, the people, his own disciples, including Judas, and even Peter. His friends abandoned him in his darkest hour, which greatly afflicted his heart.

His body was tortured by scourging, beatings, crowning with thorns, and crucifixion. He was stripped of his physical freedom as he was pinned to the cross, barely able to take another breath.

He suffered in the depths of his soul during the anguish of Gethsemane, and the sadness that overcame him at the Upper Room, and which endured unto his death.

All who looked upon him recognised him as Isaiah’s man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. And yet, as Isaiah proclaims, this suffering servant was all the time offering his life in atonement for sin.

Consider the magnanimity of Jesus’ soul. Innocent though he was, he was condemned as the worst of sinners. The injustice of this condemnation weighed on him heavily. So why did he endure it? If he were like us, wouldn’t he rail against it?

Most of us, with some life experience, have faced major crises of one kind or another. Often these are more difficult when accompanied by radical injustices, betrayals, or evils like the defamation of one’s reputation. In these situations, can we claim that we acted solely for the sake of those who benefited from our suffering? Probably not.

Yet, Jesus did. He kept before him the vision of God’s redeemed people, those who would be reconciled to God through his self-offering on the cross. Jesus knew that his sorrow, passion and death would yield a rich harvest. Recall his parable of the grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying (Jn 12:24).

Jesus’ anguished cry from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Ps 22:1) was not a cry of despair, but the cry of sorrow of a victim bearing on himself the curse due to our sins. Reading through the Psalm, we discover it was an act of perfect confidence and pure love that God will rescue him.

The greatness of Jesus’ soul is manifested in his willingness to endure extreme sufferings and death out of love for each of us, and love for God, his Father. The cross is the sign of the greatest love of all. In the end, Jesus’ death was turned into victory in his glorious Resurrection.

Death has lost its sting. Jesus’ loving embrace of death brings new life for all. Let’s accompany and console Jesus as we enter the sacred Triduum!