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Whom Do We Blame? The Cause of the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ Associate Pastor's Column Palm Sunday, April 9, 2006
Now that we’re beginning the great week, the week full of countless graces and limitless mercy, the week of the most magnificent and ancient liturgical rites of the year, we naturally turn our thoughts and hearts to the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, in preparation for his resurrection. His victory was the cross; the booty was his resurrection and eternal life for all who believe in the Name of Jesus. Much discussion is raised as to, “Whose fault is it?” Who put Jesus upon that cross? It’s not a dumb question at all, indeed, it’s a very important one. I wish to share with you the answer to this question guided by St. Thomas Aquinas (cf. S. Th. III, q. 47), and by the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It has been said that the Jewish people are guilty; yet this accusation has been refuted by the Church time and time again. St. Thomas says, “The rulers of the Jews knew that He was the Christ; and if there was any ignorance in them, it was affected ignorance, which could not excuse them.” He means, of course, that the rulers had sinned, not because they were Jews – a point necessary to stress in our day, where anti-Semitism is a real threat – but because they knew the truth and did not act accordingly. To this point, the Catechism reads, ”We cannot lay responsibility for the trial on the Jews in Jerusalem as a whole” (CCC 597). Are the individual characters of the Passion narrative guilty? Again, the Catechism asserts, “The personal sin of the participants (Judas, the Sanhedrin, Pilate) is known to God alone” (ibid.). Are we guilty? The Catechsim (598) quotes the Catechism of Trent, or the “Roman Catechism,” already now centuries old: “Sinners were the authors and ministers of all the sufferings that the divine Redeemer endured… We must regard as guilty all those who continue to relapse into their sins… those who plunge themselves into disorders and crimes crucify the Son of God anew in their hearts (for he is in them) and hold him up to contempt.” There are several passages in scripture that require us to think even more deeply about our question. For Jesus said, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father” (Jn 10:17-18). And when he was in the garden of Gethsemane, when the mob came to take him to the cross, he said, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Mt 26:53-54). All this proves that the Father sent the Son to die for our redemption. It was the Holy Trinity’s – who is one God – permissive will that Jesus redeem us in this way. He says, “it was for this very reason I came to this hour” (Jn 12:27). This is why St. Thomas says, “Christ was the cause of his own Passion and Death.” Many conclusions can be taken from this reflection, which bear great fruit to those who meditate on them in prayer: God’s sacrifice was freely given; he died for us when he really didn’t have to; he was not a tragic victim of external forces, but love brought him to such a sacrifice; we need to sacrifice for sinners with equal devotion and unconditional love; everything in my life fits into the history of salvation and is important; we need great faith to understand the depths of God’s love for us; etc. Let these thoughts accompany us this week, and, as we participate in the liturgical events of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter day, may God give us the grace to abandon sin and live for him alone, full of love for God and neighbor.
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