Palm Sunday

The Gospel of Mark, the first of the Gospels to appear in written form, presents Jesus going to his death in utter desolation, draining the cup of suffering given him by his Father.

His enemies viciously reject him; his disciples mostly betray him or desert him. Only a few remain as he goes on his way.

His cry from the cross is a cry of faith mingled with deep fear and sorrow: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

As we read this Gospel, taut and fast-paced, we share with Jesus the dark mystery of unexplained suffering that all of us face in life. Yet, this mystery leads to life, a risen life. The desolation Jesus experienced takes many forms, some quite hidden from what people see. Yes, the cross can mean physical pain, but suffering may also come from spiritual and psychological situations.

Jesus reveals that God can be found even here: “In Mark’s account, Jesus dies with a wordless scream that echoes from that dread hill, splitting the veil of the temple and igniting faith in the centurion’s heart. This unlikely witness sees in the manner of Jesus’ death for others the true revelation of God. The sight of the Crucified Jesus triggers in him the full first confession of faith expressed in the gospel: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (15:39). A startling revelation–God’s power revealed not through staggering prodigies but in a selfless death motivated by love.” Donald Senior, CP

 Donald Senior’s beautiful account of Mark’s Passion narrative can be found here.

Here’s Rembrandt’s account of the Crucifixion.

The Approach of the Leper

These Sundays at Mass we’re looking at the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry vividly described in Mark’s gospel. Jesus came from the Jordan River where he was baptized with Peter and his brother Andrew, and James and his brother John, fishermen from Capernaum.

He was invited to stay in Peter’s house in that town, which today you can see if you’re fortunate to visit the Holy Land.  Archeologists have uncovered the town of Capernaum in recent years and you can see the remnants of its old houses made of black basalt, the foundations of the synagogue where Jesus prayed; and beyond the town are the low mountains where he taught. It’s a fascinating place.

Peter’s house was the center of his ministry there, it seems. Mark describes what happened after Jesus cured Peter’s mother in law: “When it was evening after sunset they brought to him all who were ill and possessed by demons, and he cured them. The whole town was gathered at the door.”

In recent times, Franciscan archeologists have identified Peter’s house among the closely packed houses of the town, and a shrine church is built over it now.

So many people crowded around that house that Jesus had to escape to the surrounding hills to pray. Afterwards he told his disciples that he had to visit other towns and places in Galilee.

Probably the leper approached him as he was going to one of those other towns. Our first reading from the Book of Leviticus gives a succinct account of how lepers were treated in those days. They were separated from family and hometowns and sent to live apart in abominable conditions. People were afraid to go near them.

Rembrandt has a wonderful sketch of the lepers approaching Jesus.(above) It looks like Peter, who is behind him, is hiding in back of the Lord afraid to catch anything from the poor creatures who approach begging for help and healing.

Are we too afraid of people like the lepers, people suffering so much, people suffering from unexplained suffering, that we think we’re going to be overwhelmed by their suffering? We hide from the sufferings of the world. “None of that near me,” we say. But Jesus leads us to the leper. Let’s see suffering with him.

Working for Justice

“Peter began to say to Jesus, ‘We have given up everything and followed you.’” The disciple’s words in today’s gospel (Mark 10,18-21) follow the story we read yesterday about the rich young man who turns away from following Jesus because he has many possessions. Jesus comments afterwards how difficult it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

To be a disciple, Mark’s gospel teaches, is to be concerned with your neighbor and the society in which you live. In the society in which Jesus lived, the gap between the rich and the poor was great. The inequalities were enormous. His disciples were not to aim at getting rich, he taught, but rather they should work for a just world where all can share in its riches.

The picture of the Christian community after Pentecost having all things in common and sharing everything is a reminder of his teaching.

The rich young man turns away from that challenge. Peter, representing the disciples, accepts it, and as Jesus promises, he and those who do seek a just world will receive rewards in this world and in the next.

Yet it will bring “persecutions” too, Jesus says. There are costs to discipleship in all its forms. If you are going to work for social justice, you may not be popular or admired. Your voice often wont be heard. Sometimes, as we see in the story of Bishop Oscar Romero, it can lead to your death.

Working for justice always means entering into the mystery of the cross.