Today is the Passion Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent, a week before the celebration of Palm Sunday. We are again begging God, “to look down in mercy upon Thy family, by Thy favor may we be inwardly strengthened in heart and mind.”
Reflecting on the epistle from the Letter to the Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus is a sublime offering and sacrifice. The main thrust is the eternal redemption secured by our Lord Jesus Christ and not the animal offerings of the Old Testament. Jesus Christ offered Himself without blemish. He paid the ransom price for human redemption, and this sacrificial act was “once for all” which is an “eternal” one.
When “Christ being come, a High Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands…but by his own blood.” This is in connection that Jesus’ origin comes from God, not earthly; thus, a great and perfect tabernacle. The good things were the blessings Christ won for us by His sacrificial death freely given.
Christ, “through His own blood … entered the holy place once for all time,” demonstrates the immeasurable value of His sacrifice because His blood obtained eternal redemption as compared to other offerings.
In today’s gospel, Jesus has spoken to clarify things thru His teaching. He says, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” I believe that Jesus’ words are more powerful than death for Jesus only saves and gives life to the fullest. In this gospel pericope it is clear to understand that He is sinless. He has words of eternal life when He says, “If any man keep My word, he shall not see death forever.” and the Jews said to him, “You are not fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” He says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Thus, He is truly God. Here, Jesus is saying that he existed before Abraham. He is older than Abraham because he is truly God. He is “I am”. When Moses was at the burning bush and asked God what his name was, God said, “I AM”. This is what Jesus means when he says, “Before Abraham was, I am.” He is saying, “I am God.”
The last verse of our gospel reading: “So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” They picked up stones to throw at him. They wanted to kill him. People understood exactly what Jesus was saying and yet they rejected Him. We must be careful and shouldn’t be afraid what we say if even so they reject us too.
Today, we are in the midst of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, who existed even before Abraham, and before Adam and Eve, and who created the world. We are in the presence of our merciful Lord Jesus who holds life and death in His hands, forgives us, feeds us and blesses us.
Some of us might say, “Well what was the point of Jesus saying anything in our reading today if all that happened is that no-one believed in him, and they wanted to kill him?” My understanding is that we believed Him, and these things were written down for us. Jesus promises us the same things, that “we will never see death.”
In conclusion, Jesus has these words for us, He says: “Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
