1st Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7
2nd Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11
Gospel: Passion Mark 14:1 – 15:47
Have you ever wanted something or were waiting for something so badly that you could hardly stand it because of the excitement and heightened sense of anticipation? Well, I have, and what I remember happened a few years ago when I was around 12-13 years old.
My family decided to go on a camping/fishing trip up in the mighty mountains. I love the mountains. Plans were made , the camping stuff was assembled, the tent was aired out and re-packed, I made sure I gathered my fishing gear, and food was boxed-up for a weekend of great excitement and fun.
We were headed for lake Pearygin in Eastern Washington. My excitement was heightened for I truly wanted to be in no other place, the mountains, with all the rivers, creeks, lakes and all those trees with the smell of pine in the air. There is nothing better.
We headed out on a Friday afternoon and finally arrived at our destination in the dark of night. I was looking around very intently as if I could see in the dark. But the only things I could see was the silhouette of the mountain hills against the night sky and a small grocery store down the road from where we were going to set camp. My excitement was so great I could hardly stand it, but I wondered who would put a store in the middle of the mountains?
Well, we set camp and hit the rack for some sleep, as if I could really sleep. When I woke, my excitement, my anticipation for what I thought I would see was deflated as I looked at the hills barren of 2 any trees and cars surrounding that store down the road. I was, to say the least, very disappointed and that disappointment turned to anger. I wanted and expected a forest, that means trees!!!! Because of my anger, I would not realize what that weekend would bring.
My experience on that weekend sounds like the reaction of the crowds in Jerusalem when Jesus came into the city riding on a colt of an ass. Why was there such a dramatic change in the mood of the crowds in Jerusalem from Palm Sunday to the Friday we call good? Why the change from “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel”, to “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”?
Like me on that camping trip, their excitement and emotional high for what they expected Jesus to be was crushed and they, at first, were saddened until that sadness turned to anger.
The Jewish people were waiting for a mighty king, the Messiah, who would free them from the grips and influence of the Romans. When it appeared that Jesus was going to be a different kind of Messiah, one who appeared gentle and forgiving, and therefore perceived as being weak, their excitement and that emotional high turned to anger, anger at Jesus himself.
This attitude towards Jesus, this change of heart, probably influenced the decision Judas made, along with money and power, which led him to betray Jesus to the Roman and Jewish authorities.
So, what do we expect God to do for us? What kind of Messiah are we looking for or expect? What happens when God answers our prayers in ways that we do not expect? Doesn’t God give us what we need not necessarily what we want?
When we do not get what we expect spiritually, the tendency is to walk away from God and from His church. Judas is a model of our 3 own turning away from Christ. I’m sure there were some in the crowds in Jerusalem that got caught up in the moment and joined in with those who were crying out “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”, failing to be fixed on what was right. We are not so different than those back in the day, however, we do have what they didn’t have: Centuries of tradition, scripture, and Church teachings.
We also have the Triduum Liturgy of Holy Week. In the Triduum it is not what Jesus did but what God is doing. This is so true in other liturgies and especially comes to light in the liturgy of the Eucharist. It isn’t enough just to remember what happened back in Jesus’ time over two thousand years ago, but to realize that Jesus lives today among us, lives in His Church and in the world and in the liturgy. We only need to open our hearts and minds to receive Him so that He lives in us.
Throughout the Passion account, we see much suffering, disappointment of expectations. People accuse Jesus, desert Him, betray Him, and in the end, they execute Him on a cross. There is very little joy in this long account of Jesus’ last days on this earth.
But as Jesus promised, there is joy and that is good news for us. Where are the places in this world, in our community, or even in our families where all you can see is unhappiness and gloom. Take another look at these situations and see where is the hand of God, the good news, the hope. Look hard and help one another find the joy, acquire the excitement. Share what you see and feel. This is what Jesus did back then and is doing for us today.
My sisters and brothers, to have a change of heart, you need to know where your heart is. This Lenten season is a great time to find that out. This Lenten season is a time to prepare ourselves for the expectation of what Jesus has attained for us, for He has conquered death and has brought salvation to the world. Let this Good News excite us for we will never be able to expect more that what God has 4 in store for us.
After looking back on that camping trip, it turned out to be the best trip I have ever had in my life, to date. Our lives in the heavenly kingdom will be the best camping trip ever. For this, my expectations are high and my excitement uncontainable, for it will never end. Let it be so for you!