It is finished?

Today the Christian Church gathers for the Celebration of the Lord's Passion. The word celebration may seem to be unusual. The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary present the Passion according to John. The opening of this account places Jesus in a garden which was very familiar to His followers. John tells us that Jesus knows what is about to transpire. The Evangelist John sets up a few episodes in the presentation of the Passion. We attend to the events which are detailed, the people involved and the dialogue between them. John does not waste words. The nature of Jesus as Son and King is established through the chapters of questioning by the authorities. Jesus of Nazareth has taught openly and correctly. Jesus is king of a kingdom not of this world. He is born to be truth. Those who listen are aware of His Truth. The political dilemma of Pilate is our continuing battle. “What is the truth?” Pilate sees the rejection of the “King of the Jews” in favour of a notorious criminal. The claim of Jesus Divinity as “Son of God” draws the demand for death from the crowd. The mystery of Jesus strikes Pilate with fear. In the battle between faith and fear, Pilate cannot comprehend Jesus seeming misunderstanding of Pilate’s control over life and death. Pilate declares that the Jewish authorities are seeking the death of the “King of the Jews”. The rejection of this declaration comes as tribute to Caesar. The oppressed give tribute to the oppressor in response to the message of Truth. Hearing the Truth and being changed by it is difficult. The return to captivity is so often seen as easier. Pilate acts to see that the proclamation of Jesus and the astounding submission of the people to the Roman occupation is written as a script above the cross; ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.’ John takes us to the scene at the foot of the cross as the dialogue confirms the continuation of the relationship between the beloved disciple and Jesus mother. As a practical matter, Mary, without Joseph and Jesus, needed a male provider in the society of the day. As continuing truth, the disciples are intimately related to Mary as Mother who continues to exemplify the “yes” with which “the Word becomes flesh”. The human life of Jesus is finished. The intimate relationship with the Divine through Jesus and the indwelling Spirit is celebrated today as the Truth which is heard by the listener.