Triduum Passion and Love

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, in the second part of the Triduum, Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion, invite us to be present with Jesus as the Christian community gathers to contemplate the love of God proclaimed on the Cross.

Shared Passion and Love

The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah presents the fourth oracle of the Suffering Servant.

* [52:13–53:12] The last of the “servant of the Lord” oracles (see note on 42:1–4). Taken together, these oracles depict a figure of one called by God for a vocation to Israel and the nations (42:4; 49:5–6); the servant’s exaltation both opens and closes the passage (52:13; 53:12). The servant responded in fidelity but has suffered opposition (50:4–6). In this fourth oracle the servant is characterized as “a man of suffering” (53:3) and appears to be unjustly put to death (53:8–9). Those who have witnessed his career somehow recognize that he is innocent, has undergone suffering for their sins (53:4–6), and his death is referred to as a reparation offering (see note on 53:10–11). The servant is described in ways that identify him with Israel (which is frequently referred to as “servant” in the context of Second Isaiah—e.g., 41:8, 9; 44:2, 21; 43:4) and is designated as “Israel” in 49:3; yet Israel outside the “servant of the Lord” oracles is not presented as sinless, but rather in exile because of sin (40:2; 42:21–25) and even as servant as deaf and blind (42:18–19). The servant is thus both identified with Israel and distinguished from it. As with the previous servant poems, this chapter helped the followers of Jesus to interpret his suffering, death, and resurrection; see especially the passion narratives. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 52 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 31 is a prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies.

* [Psalm 31] A lament (Ps 31:2–19) with a strong emphasis on trust (Ps 31:4, 6, 15–16), ending with an anticipatory thanksgiving (Ps 31:20–24). As is usual in laments, the affliction is couched in general terms. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by evil people but trusts in the “God of truth” (Ps 31:6). (Psalms, PSALM 31 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, Jesus is proclaimed the Great High Priest.

* [4:14–16] These verses, which return to the theme first sounded in Heb 2:16–3:1, serve as an introduction to the section that follows. The author here alone calls Jesus a great high priest (Heb 4:14), a designation used by Philo for the Logos; perhaps he does so in order to emphasize Jesus’ superiority over the Jewish high priest. He has been tested in every way, yet without sin (Heb 4:15); this indicates an acquaintance with the tradition of Jesus’ temptations, not only at the beginning (as in Mk 1:13) but throughout his public life (cf. Lk 22:28). Although the reign of the exalted Jesus is a theme that occurs elsewhere in Hebrews, and Jesus’ throne is mentioned in Heb 1:8, the throne of grace (Heb 4:16) refers to the throne of God. The similarity of Heb 4:16 to Heb 10:19–22 indicates that the author is thinking of our confident access to God, made possible by the priestly work of Jesus. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents the Passion Narrative from The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus to the Burial of Jesus.

* [19:14] Noon: Mk 15:25 has Jesus crucified “at the third hour,” which means either 9 A.M. or the period from 9 to 12. Noon, the time when, according to John, Jesus was sentenced to death, was the hour at which the priests began to slaughter Passover lambs in the temple; see Jn 1:29.

* [19:16] He handed him over to them to be crucified: in context this would seem to mean “handed him over to the chief priests.” Lk 23:25 has a similar ambiguity. There is a polemic tendency in the gospels to place the guilt of the crucifixion on the Jewish authorities and to exonerate the Romans from blame. But John later mentions the Roman soldiers (Jn 19:23), and it was to these soldiers that Pilate handed Jesus over.

* [19:17] Carrying the cross himself: a different picture from that of the synoptics, especially Lk 23:26 where Simon of Cyrene is made to carry the cross, walking behind Jesus. In John’s theology, Jesus remained in complete control and master of his destiny (cf. Jn 10:18). Place of the Skull: the Latin word for skull is Calvaria; hence “Calvary.” Golgotha is actually an Aramaic rather than a Hebrew word. (John, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

Thomas Kelly, Ph.D., Professor of Theology and Director of the Christian Spirituality Program at Creighton University, shares a reflection.

Don Schwager quotes quotes from a commentary “It Is Finished”

The Word Among Us offers a Meditation on Isaiah 52:13–53:12

Friar Jude Winkler offers some comments.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces “Jesus Forgives”

Triduum Present in Love and Service

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, invite us to be present in the Triduum, the three day experience of Christ love and in both horizontal and vertical dimensions.

Present in Service

In the Reading from the Book of Exodus the Passover Ritual is Prescribed.

* [12:1–20] This section, which interrupts the narrative of the exodus, contains later legislation concerning the celebration of Passover.

* [12:2] As if to affirm victory over Pharaoh and sovereignty over the Israelites, the Lord proclaims a new calendar for Israel. This month: Abib, the month of “ripe grain.” Cf. 13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Dt 16:1. It occurred near the vernal equinox, March–April. Later it was known by the Babylonian name of Nisan. Cf. Neh 2:1; Est 3:7.

* [12:4] The lamb’s cost: some render the Hebrew, “reckon for the lamb the number of persons required to eat it.” Cf. v. 10. (Exodus, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 116 presents vows and Temple sacrifices.

* [Psalm 116] A thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger (Ps 116:3–4) and from near despair (Ps 116:10–11) with vows and Temple sacrifices (Ps 116:13–14, 17–19). The Greek and Latin versions divide the Psalm into two parts: Ps 116:1–9 and Ps 116:10–19, corresponding to its two major divisions. (Psalms, PSALM 116 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians is the earliest account of the Tradition of the Institution.

* [11:23–25] This is the earliest written account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament. The narrative emphasizes Jesus’ action of self-giving (expressed in the words over the bread and the cup) and his double command to repeat his own action. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents Jesus Washing of the Disciples’ Feet at the Last Supper.

* [13:1–20] Washing of the disciples’ feet. This episode occurs in John at the place of the narration of the institution of the Eucharist in the synoptics. It may be a dramatization of Lk 22:27—“I am your servant.” It is presented as a “model” (“pattern”) of the crucifixion. It symbolizes cleansing from sin by sacrificial death.

* [13:1] Before the feast of Passover: this would be Thursday evening, before the day of preparation; in the synoptics, the Last Supper is a Passover meal taking place, in John’s chronology, on Friday evening. To the end: or, “completely.”

* [13:2] Induced: literally, “The devil put into the heart that Judas should hand him over.”

* [13:5] The act of washing another’s feet was one that could not be required of the lowliest Jewish slave. It is an allusion to the humiliating death of the crucifixion.

* [13:10] Bathed: many have suggested that this passage is a symbolic reference to baptism. The Greek root involved is used in baptismal contexts in 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 5:26; Ti 3:5; Heb 10:22. (John, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. George Meze, SJ, comments that the deeper meaning of these actions was revealed in the crucifixion as Jesus shared his life with the wounded humanity. In this mystery, the Divine One humbled God’s own self by becoming human to serve and redeem humanity.

 

This reflection reminds the three ways of humility described by St. Ignatius. The first way is obedience to God in all things. The second is to take a step further where one practices the virtue of indifference to dispose oneself to God’s Will. The third is the most radical and unusual: intentionally choosing to live as Jesus lived; to choose poverty with Christ poor rather than wealth; contempt rather than honors; to be useless rather than a prudent person.

As we celebrate Jesus’ Last Supper, He invites us into His intentional way of sharing. As Ignatius teaches, it means divesting of self-love, self-will, and self-interest to invest in God’s love, God’s will, and God’s interest. We pray for the grace to respond to our Savior’s invitation to take part in his Sharing. (Meze, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Christ chose to be a servant who offered himself for us”, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Even though the man Christ Jesus, in the form of God together with the Father with whom He is one God, accepts our sacrifice, nonetheless He has chosen in the form of a servant to be the sacrifice rather than accept it. Therefore, He is the priest Himself Who presents the offering, and He Himself is what is offered." (excerpt from City of God, 10,20) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments both on the Chrism mass, celebrated yesterday in this diocese, and also on the Institution of the Eucharist celebrated as part of the Triduum. In Exodus are the instructions for the first Passover sacrifice and the shedding of blood as a sign to the Angel of Death. This was likely originally an agricultural feast to celebrate the Spring birth of the lambs. The people are told to keep the memorial forever. When celebrated in dress for a journey they were making present the Exodus event as in our Eucharist we celebrate the Presence of Christ. The Corinthians passage is the earliest account of the Institution. It is similar to what is found in Luke’s Gospel. In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark it is blood in the cup. In celebrating the Eucharist we are present with Jesus as we pass out of time into eternity in some way. This is the message in the Gospels of  Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In John, the account emphasizes the horizontal dimension of Eucharist. The vertical dimension in the Gospel of John is in the Chapter 6, Bread of Life discourse, and the service in Chapter 13 emphasises community in the Eucharist. Friar Jude comments we often find it difficult to have others serve us, but love requires the vulnerability to allow others to serve us. Asking for help is an opportunity for them to serve us. 

 

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 13:1-15 comments on the scene in John of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Yet, if we have eyes to see it, this passage also reveals beautiful truths about Jesus’ gift of his Body and Blood.

Do you realize what I have done for you? Finally, Jesus tells us he has given us “a model” to follow; he wants us to “wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14, 15). And in the Eucharist, he gives us the grace to fulfill that call. “As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity” (Catechism, 1394). Jesus dwells in you and helps you to see more clearly the needs of the people around you. Even more, he moves your heart to gladly sacrifice your time, energy, and resources in love.

Do you realize what Jesus has done for you? Bow down before him in wonder and gratitude today!

“Thank you, Jesus, for your great gift of the Eucharist.” (Meditation on John 13:1-15, n.d.)

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Dr. Yolanda Pierce who finds both comfort and challenge in the spiritual “Were You There?,” which invites listeners to reflect on how they are present to Jesus’s death on the cross.

There is fullness of life when you show up, fully present, when people are suffering and where people are bearing the burdens of their own crosses. “Were You There?” is a reminder that to be fully present with the whole of humanity does not require us to enter the sanctuary or walk across the threshold of a church. The cross, Calvary, is a site of public spectacle. The rhetorical question “Were you there?” signifies the real pressing question about whether you will be present for lost and hurting generations.

To be present is to be wherever there is need. Were you there when the levees broke during Hurricane Katrina or when the earthquake shook Haiti? Will you be there when the next natural disaster strikes and the most vulnerable cannot find shelter?…

To be present is to be where people are suffering. Were you there among the hungry and the homeless, those in search of both their spiritual and physical daily bread?… Or will you cross to the other side of the street?

To be present is to be at the front lines of the fight for justice. Were you there in Selma and Birmingham, risking the dogs and the water hoses? Will you be there on Capitol Hill to fight for health care for the uninsured? Will you be there at your senator’s office to protest the cuts to educational funding even as another several billion dollars are appropriated to fight unjust wars?

The lyrics of “Were You There?” continue with the words “Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble! Tremble! Tremble!” I wonder whether we have lost our ability to tremble—to be deeply affected —in the face of injustice. I wonder whether we no longer tremble in the presence of a holy God who requires us to do the work of justice. (Rohr, n.d.)

We invoke the Presence of the Spirit as we walk with Jesus in the events of the Triduum, representing the three days that are the Source and Summit of our invitation to fullness of Life.

References

Exodus, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/12?1 

John, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?1 

Meditation on John 13:1-15. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/02/1530864/ 

Meze, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-2-2026 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/11? 

Psalms, PSALM 116 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/116? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Were You There? Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/were-you-there/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus' Supreme Humility and Unfailing Love. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/