Enter the Mystery

Fr Colin Sutton takes us on a reflection for Holy Week through the eyes of St John the Evangelist

The Passion according to John 
does not sweep us through the drama of the event
blow by blow – or with all the detail of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
John’s account invites us to go deeper,
to surrender ourselves into the hidden depths
of all that it reveals.
John brings us back to the one who stands at 
the still centre to look at him 
standing before the seat of judgement, 
to look down at him on the way of the cross, 
to look up at him on the cross.


Pilate invites the crowd to look at Jesus
“Behold the man”.
What did they see?
A sad but calm silent figure with a crown of thorns 
and a torn body.
The Evangelist is saying: 
this is what we have done to our own humanity.
Humanity – called to be the climax of creation, 
called to share God’s creative activity.
We have used our freedom to trample on others 
so that we might reign.
Humanity is endlessly endowed with the possibility  
of using all at its disposal for good or evil and
everything in between.
In Pilate we see what happens when truth is unknown 
or expediency takes over 
with winners and losers.


“Behold the man.”
Look at Jesus the innocent victim.
In his still dignity 
we see the deep compassion of God 

Behold the man.”
Look at Jesus the innocent victim.
who remains true to his love for humanity.
And we are called not only see but believe this is the Christ
 the Son of the Ling God; 
He who alone can heal our broken lives, our broken world.
 For salvation is of Christ the Lord,
and this salvation is not just the power to heal 
but to bring the victory of good out of evil.

Look down on Jesus
‘carrying the cross by himself’ –
no mention of bystanders, 
of a Simon or any wailing women.
Christ is alone – weighed down carrying the cross 
across his bleeding shoulders.
The aloneness of one normally surrounded by faithful followers                                                                                  and by curious crowds and the endless sick and downtrodden.
 
Look up at Jesus on the cross 
and we see him looking at us.
The thirst of Jesus from the cross
is more than his physical desperate need.
It speaks also of God’s thirst for us
‘ so that we might have eternal life’.
The final cry of Jesus from his cross,
draws us despite our doubts,
into unity with him, through his surrender to the Father
’It is finished’-not just it is all over but it is accomplished 
the work he was given to do 
and to his role to take away the sin of the world,
and he is laying his life down.
It is the surrendered cry of victory for all of us.
All evil will be conquered, even the worse humanity can do to God and to itself.
Love will prevail.