The Jaundice of the Soul

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

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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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