When we think of the Passion of Christ, we normally think of the physical suffering that Jesus endured for our sins.
Ron Rolheiser said “We have, I think, focused too much on the physical aspects of the crucifixion to the detriment of what was happening more deeply, underneath. Why do I say that? Because none of the gospels emphasize the physical sufferings, nor indeed, in the fears he expresses in conversations before his death, does Jesus. What the gospels and Jesus emphasize is his moral loneliness, the fact that he was alone, betrayed, humiliated, misunderstood, the object of jealousy and crowd hysteria, that he was a stone’s throw away from everyone, that those who loved him were asleep to what was really happening, that he was unanimity-minus-one.
And this moral loneliness, mocked by those outside of it, tempted him against everything he had preached and stood for during his life and ministry. What made his sacrifice so special was not that he died a victim of violence (millions die as victims of violence and their deaths aren’t necessarily special) nor that he refused to use divine power to stop his death (as he himself taught, that would have proved nothing). What made his death so special is that, inside of all the aloneness, darkness, jealousy, misunderstanding, sick crowd hysteria, coldness, and murder, he held out, he gave himself over, without bitterness, without self-pity, holding his ideals intact, gracious, respectful, forgiving, without losing his balance, his meaning, or his message. “
Jesus was in control during his whole passion. When Judas appeared with the crowd, he stepped out so he could easily be identified. He could have called angels down to rescue himself from all the physical suffering. He decided when he was ready to die on the cross. He was already dead when the soldiers checked, so the soldier pierced his side to be sure and Divine Mercy flowed out in the water and blood.
Reginald H. Fuller, a Benedictine wrote “It is important that we see the Cross, not as the mechanical fulfillment of a preconceived dogmatic scheme, but as the culmination of the intensely personal mission of Jesus as a whole. He identified himself completely with sinners during his ministry, and in so doing he broke through the barrier of sin set up between God and humanity. He stood for God on the side of sinners.”
Fr Ron summed up Jesus’ passion best: “Christ’s passion was a drama of the heart, not an endurance test for his body.” His love for us prevailed. He accepted his Father’s will for his life.
Jesus’s suffering was one of loneliness and total rejection; by his closest friends, the religious leaders, the people of his time, and even you and me. We must remember that Jesus was totally human and totally divine. The human part of him could have said that these sinners are not worth this much suffering and said NO to his Father’s will. But he didn’t.
Anthony Carnesi, a composer and artist wrote the song ‘My Lord and My God’. He sings:
“…Though scourged by Roman soldiers our sins hurt you most of all…”
Jesus suffered more because of our rejection of him than from the physical pain he experienced. We are so unworthy of that love. Forgive us Jesus for the many times we turned our backs on you.
