Jesus' Passion and Ours

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Next week we will commemorate Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday. The Scripture readings provide us with the story of Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection. They help us to remember the horrendous suffering Jesus' endured for our sake, then end with his glorious victory over death.

Father Ron Rolheiser's book called Sacred Fire gave me a whole new understanding of Jesus' passion. Rolheiser understands the passion as Jesus giving his death away. In the previous 33 years Jesus gave his life away, healing, preaching, teaching, raising from the dead. After his arrest he is passive, allowing others to do things to him and for him.The way he faced his death by allowing soldiers to mock him, crown him with thorns, make him carry a cross, nail him to the cross, was showing us his "character," his final gift to us. By enduring all this with a peaceful, loving demeanor he was showing us how to face the end of our lives.

When blood and water poured out from Jesus' body, he was pouring his life spirit into the apostles and all who would follow. And that's what he wants us to do with our deaths, to die in a way that gives life to others. When we are nearing the end of our lives we are no longer "useful" in an active way, but allowing others to care for us makes us "useful" in a passive way. The way we endure the afflictions and limitations of our bodies affects those who love us, either positively or negatively. May Jesus' passion be our example of how to face death.

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