Mourning for the Lord; grief for men, who have not recognised their Redeemer and have crucified Him… Mourning of the Mother for the beloved Son; mourning and bewilderment among the disciples, who say to each other in confusion: “Our own hope had been that He would be the one to set Israel free…” (Lk 24:21)
But the Lord descended into hell, to those who were still waiting for the Redemption, and He filled them also with His love.
Judas consummated his betrayal and Jesus is apprehended. This happens after the Lord had accepted in Gethsemane the suffering from the hands of his Father and had given his ‘yes’ to all that was before him.
A YES that had to go through anguish and agony; a YES, after having asked his Father that, if possible, that cup might pass without his having to drink it (cf. Mt 26:39-44); a YES that expresses unconditional surrender to the Father; a YES out of love for us men.
“During supper, Jesus got up from table, removed His outer garments and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing.” (Jn 13:4-5)
What great love is manifested to us on this day, what extraordinary gestures do we encounter! The Lord of heaven and earth washes the feet of His disciples, thus revealing to them more deeply what their discipleship is all about: it is about service. God Himself, in His infinite love, serves man; and He calls us to live in this same service.
Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you prepared to give me if I hand Him over to you?’ They paid him thirty silver pieces. (Mt 26:14-15)
The betrayal of God in exchange for unjust money… How often this story is repeated! How often people sell themselves at the price of money, of honour, of disorderly pleasures, of power!
“In all truth I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” (Jn 13:21b)
Betrayal! Here the most terrible depths of the human heart are revealed. Betraying a friend, betraying the Master and Lord, betraying love…
“Mary brought in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair.” (Jn 12:3)
What a tender gesture on Mary’s part this Gospel passage tells us! It is a tenderness that corresponds to the being of a woman, and which reflects something of her beauty and her capacity for self-giving. Mary has given her whole heart to Jesus, and what a consolation that loving soul must have been for Him in the midst of so much hostility. Something similar will happen to Him on the Way of the Cross, when Veronica wipes His face.
“Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heavens!” (Mt 21:9)
The people are gathered, and for a short time that which corresponds to the reality of the coming of the Son of God is happening: He is received with rejoicing and joy, the people receive their true King, their Messiah, the one long promised!
“Lent is the autumn of the spiritual life, when one should harvest the fruits and gather them for the whole year. Do everything, I beg you, to become rich in these precious treasures, which nothing can rob or destroy (Mt 6:20). Remember what I often say: As long as we try to observe two Lents at once, we will never observe even one properly. So let us observe this one as if it were our last, and then we will observe it well.” (St. Francis de Sales – Letter to Jane Frances de Chantal)
Today we take the final step on our Lenten journey before entering Holy Week. I warmly invite you to continue following us. We will be using the texts for Holy Week 2024. Individual passages will be explored in a more meditative way. You are also welcome to follow along via video on YouTube[1].
At the beginning of today’s Gospel (John 12:10–36), we already encounter Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, which we will reflect on more deeply tomorrow, on Palm Sunday.
For a brief time, everything in Jerusalem was as it should be. The people welcomed the true King of Israel and rushed to meet Him. This event revealed the truth, and one could see what Israel was meant to do for all humanity. It was not merely a human king but the heavenly King who came to earth to redeem His people. He enters the “city of the great King” (Mt 5:35), namely Jerusalem, chosen by God. What joy and what grace the Eternal Father bestows upon His people! He is coming—the One to whom all honor, praise, and glory are due (Rev 5:12).
And how does He enter? This King renounces all outward splendor and pomp to emphasize His significance and position before mankind. No, the heavenly King comes to the Daughter of Zion on the colt of a donkey, as foretold in Scripture (Zech 9:9). The cry of joy was never meant to fall silent, but to resound for all eternity: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13).
