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The Jaundice of the Soul

31/3/2023

A Reflection on the Gospel for April 2, 2023:
Passion (Palm) Sunday

Matthew
27.11-54

Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.

Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.”

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.

The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!”

Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his Cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the Cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders were mocking him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the Cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many.

Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

“Jealousy is the jaundice of the soul.” — John Dryden

Jealousy is a hatred-bearer, a thief, a murderer. It brings about an evil that seems proportionate to its strength. When jealousy first brushes against us, it awakens in us resentment for the good fortune of others, filches our peace of mind, withers a measure of our self-worth. When jealousy begins to walk with us daily, it pickpockets our joy and smothers our capacity to appreciate the good things in our lives. And then, when jealousy sinks its claws into us, it consumes us. We are blind to reason, incapable of compassion, and boiling with rage. The Scripture readings for Lent demonstrate not only that this is true, but that this has been true for a long time.

The First Reading for Friday March 10th recalls to us the story of Joseph, who was favoured by his father, Jacob, and consequently despised by his older brothers. Jealousy so overtakes the brothers that they conspire to kill Joseph. Only when Reuben intervenes do they agree instead to sell him into slavery.

Jealousy also motivates the chief priests and elders determined to accomplish Jesus’ death. The Passion tells us that Pontius Pilate, although no confidante of the Jewish community leaders, nonetheless saw clearly that, “it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.” Jealousy blinds the Jews to the horror of their actions, robs them of reason, and suffocates any mercy they may have for Jesus, who has done nothing to harm them.

I know what it is to be jealous. I have felt resentful of those who have succeeded where I have failed, whose confidence seems effortless, who appear better loved than I. Like Pilate, I recognize it. It is the same jealousy that consumed Joseph’s brothers and motivated Jesus’ accusers. Yes, it is lesser in degree — but it is the same bearer of hatred, the same thieving murderer. It is tempting for me to dislike and judge the brothers and accusers, but I too am susceptible. There but for the grace of God go I.

Donna Davis

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Everything I Need

30/3/2023

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A Reflection on the Second Reading for April 2, 2023:
Passion (Palm) Sunday

Philippians
2.6-11

Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death –
even death on a cross.

Therefore God highly exalted him
and gave him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus wasn’t proud.

He didn’t consider Himself better than anyone – He just knew that His purpose was to point us all toward God. He didn’t deny that He was the Son of God, but He didn’t do anything to save His own life because He knew God would provide.

Sometimes, I’m proud.

I can easily fall into the trap of comparing myself to others, and my pride can be either buoyed or deflated depending on what I find. I can wrongly assume that my own experience is the only possibility, and fail to make space for others.

To deny oneself to the degree that Jesus did seems to be a miracle in and of itself to me. But the truth is, if I ask Him, God will provide me, too, with the grace and healing required to do it. The ability to empty myself, to give without ambition or conceit, depends on how I see myself – and that is either as a beloved child of God, or as someone who relies on earthly, material assurance of my worth.

It makes total sense that if all I know is earthly assurance, or worse, earthly rejection, then my pride will grow as I seek and strive to earn what my heart needs here in this life. But I am slowly learning and trusting the blessed reassurance of God’s love for me, and that Jesus is God in the flesh, come to show me that all will be well. This is what will ultimately allow me to be free to discover my purpose and live, empty of myself, for Him. For Love. To the glory of God the Father, who provides everything I need.

Lindsay Elford

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Wounded and Rejoicing Saviour

29/3/2023

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A Reflection on the Psalm for April 2, 2023:
Passion (Palm) Sunday

Psalm 22

R. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; “Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver; let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”

R. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

For dogs are all around me; a company of evildoers encircles me. My hands and feet have shrivelled; I can count all my bones.

R. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

They divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O Lord, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid!

R. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

R. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

The readings for this weekend contain so much of the drama and conflict of Christ’s life. He is celebrated in the streets by the faithful as they wave palms. He enters Jerusalem as a King. Then, in the Passion reading, Christ is taken out of Jerusalem’s walls, where He is mockingly dressed in a King’s colours and made to wear a crown of thorns. He is acknowledged by some and mocked by others. But in neither circumstance did they know the nature and heart of the King who entered triumphantly and left humbly from the gates of Jerusalem.

This Psalm helps us see the shift in the narrative. He is not a triumphant King come to conquer. He is not a pretender to the throne being rightfully shamed. He is the truest King who comes not to conquer kingdoms, but to save souls. But the cost. Oh, the cost! As the song goes, sometimes it causes me to tremble.

The crucifixion is unlike any death in human history. Crucifixion is designed for slow, painful, and shameful death. A death that is public, visible from a distance. One that internally drowns the crucified, while causing immense physical stress and pain. But for Christ, the crucifixion has extra layers of torture. They draw lots for His clothes. Feed Him bitter wine. The crown of thorns and the flagellation beforehand. The verbal abuse and the mocking signage of “King of the Jews.” He took on our flesh and experienced the most humiliating, horrifying, painful death. For us. He did it for us. Without fighting. Without escaping.

By taking on our humanity and paying for our sins, Christ is one not with kings and rulers, but with those who suffer. He accepts the slander, the physical and psychological pain, the attempts to steal His dignity. But through all of it, Christ’s dignity remains – it is unassailable. Even in the most shameful, grotesque circumstances, Christ is King. Through the prophetic words of the Psalms, we see that the attempts to steal His dignity fail, and that in His mouth are words of praise. Christ belongs to His Father and His Father belongs to Him.

Christ gives us a beautiful and challenging pattern to imitate in the face of our own suffering. By His stripes, we are healed. Through His example, we can face our suffering with new eyes.

When the world hates us. When we experience pain. When we feel our dignity is under attack. We can lament. We can acknowledge the suffering. But we can also praise God, our Good, Good Father, in the face of our own cross. Even when everything we’re experiencing seems designed to break us down, we can rest in the knowledge that our Saviour has walked this via dolorosa. Christ has experienced suffering beyond our imagining and sends the Holy Spirit to comfort and console us. Christ was wounded for us and gives us the strength to rejoice with Him. The love He poured out through life, death, and Resurrection is for us, with us, and in us.

Stephanie Potter

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Speaking in Silence

28/3/2023

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A Reflection on the First Reading for April 2, 2023:
Passion (Palm) Sunday

Isaiah
50. 4-7

The servant of the Lord said: “The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens — wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.

“The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.

“I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.

“The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.”

I had always considered myself a generally quiet person, but in experiencing my first silent retreat I realized how noisy I can be. Not so much outwardly, but somehow I sustain a nearly constant interior monologue where I analyze, criticize, theorize and perseverate. With my external speech limited for nine days on this particular spiritual retreat, I was quickly humbled by the challenge of learning to simply “be” in silence.

As poor as I was at the task at first, with God’s grace and with practice I gradually improved at limiting distractions and really listening. God increased my desire to hear His voice, and He drew me towards places that helped calm my mind, helped increase my focus, and made me aware of His presence. During the windows of time that were dedicated to prayer, I had the freedom to roam the grounds of the retreat centre. I walked slowly through snow-covered cherry orchards in the bright morning and paused to listen to birdsong. I watched pine needles rustling in the wind and took in the crunch of the ice beneath my boots. I noticed the sound and the misty cloud of my breath that formed in the cold evening air, and how it frosted my hair with ice crystals. Instead of intrusive or distracting thoughts invading my mind, I felt increasingly present to each “now” as I perceived His beauty in and through His creation. Over the week, the Holy Spirit also spoke of His love through scripture, daily mass, journaling, and through people in the rare moments where we had time to share our experiences in small groups. My confidence in prayer and trust in Jesus grew massively by the daily habit of seeking Him in silence and expecting Him to speak. The structure and the community I found on retreat helped turn my resistance into surrender to facilitate my healing and growth.

As is typical after retreats, it was hard to maintain this connection and to keep an open ear once I returned to daily life. Each morning most of us are inundated with innumerable distractions vying for our attention. I easily forget the consolation of past prayer times when I’m in dry desert periods and I get caught in loneliness, restlessness, or discouragement. Despite the daily struggles to listen, I know I can always ask for His help; His merciful heart is drawn to weariness, and His desire is to become our daily sustenance. What is even more beautiful is that when He meets us and draws us away from distraction and to Himself, He will also gift us words to speak His life and love into others and to fulfill His mission.

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us ask God to speak in silence and be our Daily Bread – the One who sustains us at all times.

Kendra L

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The Jaundice of the Soul

A Reflection on the Gospel for April 2, 2023:Passion (Palm) Sunday

Everything I Need

A Reflection on the Second Reading for April 2, 2023:Passion (Palm) Sunday

Wounded and Rejoicing Saviour

A Reflection on the Psalm for April 2, 2023:Passion (Palm) Sunday

Speaking in Silence

A Reflection on the First Reading for April 2, 2023:Passion (Palm) Sunday

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A Reflection on the Gospel for April 2, 2023:
Passion (Palm) Sunday

A Reflection on the Second Reading for April 2, 2023:
Passion (Palm) Sunday

A Reflection on the Psalm for April 2, 2023:
Passion (Palm) Sunday

A Reflection on the First Reading for April 2, 2023:
Passion (Palm) Sunday