By Fr. Glenn Jones:
Dang. Though by no means a British royalty watcher, I sure hated to see that Princess Catherine has come down with cancer. She seems like such an elegant, classy and yet down-to-earth young woman. She’ll be a lovely queen one of these days if she can beat this disease. Prayers for her and ALL who come down with cancer, and for all who care for them. Me and the bros lost our dad that way, so been there, done that. And who among us who have been around for a while hasn’t watched friends and family battle that.
There was also a headline not long ago of Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania’s comments toward those of his party who were somewhat gleefully tossing taunting criticisms toward the rival party’s Representative Lauren Boebert, whose son had been arrested for various crimes. He was rebuking his fellow party members for participating in “recreational cruelty” and reveling in another’s misfortune—one they themselves would loathe to suffer as well. Very classy and concise point—one often forgotten in the political fray concerning real persons with real pain. But applicable also to our own everyday lives in day-to-day gossiping, back-stabbing and one-upmanship. We have to remember that whether we agree with one another or not, we are all human beings and children of God.
Both of these events are relevant to our weekend Christian observance of Passion, or Palm Sunday, in which Christian remembrance centers around the suffering and death of Jesus as we enter Holy Week prior to Easter and celebration of His resurrection.
In the accounts of the Passion (from Latin passio, meaning to suffer, endure or resign), we see there as well some “recreational cruelty” of sorts, the religious authorities whipping up public opinion falsely against Jesus. Someone new to the account might be shocked at reading that, the scourged Jesus, crowned with thorns and hung on a cross by nails hammered in His hands and feet, is ridiculed by bystanders: “‘Those passing by reviled him … save yourself by coming down from the cross.’ Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him.” (Mark 15).
Any student of history knows that those were much harsher times, but one would hope that such a pitiable sight as a man nailed to a cross would elicit sympathy from even the most hardened individual. Alas … no. And yet even in our “much more civilized” day, we can witness cruelty not only in other countries, other states or other cities, but even down in our own neighborhoods—child predators and abandonment, scammers robbing retired of life’s savings, and many others. Videos of the October 9th attack on Israel with women being dragged away to become sexual slaves. In other countries—and even in the U.S.—the hacking off of limbs, rape and torture, slaughtering innocents as we saw in Moscow the other day, and which happens here as well not infrequently.
But in this time of year, we recall that all Jesus endured was for us … a suffering which He underwent willingly. As we read in 1 Peter 1: “Realize that you were delivered from the futile way of life your fathers handed on to you … by Christ’s blood beyond all price: the blood of a spotless, unblemished lamb chosen before the world’s foundation … It is through him that you are believers in God, the God who raised him from the dead.” (v. 18-20) “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
As we think about “Princess Kate” and others with dangerous health conditions, we are confronted yet again with our mortality—that disease and death are respecters of no status or wealth or fame, but will eventually come to us all … recalling the dialogue in one point of the movie “The Kingdom of Heaven”: Balian: “You ride to certain death.” Warrior-monk: “All death is certain.” Thus, we ask: “Is there a point to life, then, other than propagating the species? What is after?”
Now such thoughts might seem morbid and depressing, but only for those who have not understood the expectation of eternal life. And while such hope may seem imaginary to many, especially in our scientific age and its almost complete dependence on empiricism, the sincere seeker will quickly, if not come to faith, realize at least the reasonability of the idea … if one will only seek. It is not often a treasure drops into one’s lap unsought, and faith is no different. But it requires humility, and letting loose of the belief that we MUST be the highest of beings simply because we can physically discern none higher. The example used here often is that stars shine regardless of the fact that the blind cannot see them. The blind, too, rely on reliable witnesses of the heavens, as do faithful Christians in the spiritual realm. After all, there’s a LOT of writings by witnesses to Christ and His works, not to mention the testimony of the fulfillment of prophecy and spread of the faith throughout the world.
So as we traverse the bittersweetness of Holy Week, be renewed in spirit, O Christian, and do not fear to profess your faith in both word and action. Witness of faith in virtue and charity can often sway in a world often devoid of both. In a phrase often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach always, and when necessary, use words.”
Have a most blessed Holy Week and Easter.
Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.