Characters of the passion story

This morning I am completing the costumes for Good Friday Stations of the Cross. Running through my mind is every character, what they wear, where they will be standing, saying, and how everything else will fit into the picture. 

While spending time sewing and checking off what I have made or need to make. I recall a novena I wrote for dearest loved ones, it was a reflection that I recall writing just after lent. Looking it up and reading it I thought I might share it with you all…. 

Just more food for the holy week… 

Its hard scripture to reflect on as its so heart turning. 

It’s easy to read the Bible like it’s a history book. Moses parted the sea, Jesus died on a cross, Columbus sailed across the ocean and often its seen to be more of an account of historical events, struggling to see how it applies to our lives. 

“They” (that collective, scholarly, holy group of people) say that when we read the Bible we should place ourself in the story. … I think that we are every character in the story of the passion and death of Christ. And I think that’s the whole point.

Let me explain…

We are an apostle, sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:40) Prone to give into laziness in the presence of holiness. In the most sacred places, like before Christ in the Eucharist, we allow our flesh to dictate how attentive our soul is, not putting up a fight against the pull of distractions.

We are Judas. Jesus has every right to call us both “friend” and “betrayer” barely 30 seconds apart (Matt 26:46,50) Our heart is fickle and weak and sometimes our commitment to being Jesus’ friend is blown off on the whim of an emotion.

We are Caiaphas, the high priest. We want Jesus to prove Himself  (Matt 26:63)We want signs and wonders to know that we really can trust Him. we want our prayers answered in our way. We want concrete proof over humble faith.

We are Peter. Sometimes we deny Jesus (Matt 26:72). we deny Him in the face of the homeless when we chose to look away. We deny to know Him when we don’t pray before eating in a restaurant. we deny Him when we are afraid of being judged and condemned by those around us.

We are in the crowd yelling, “crucify Him” (Matt 27:21-23)And we say it again and again every time we knowingly choose to sin.

We are Barabbas. we are chained in sin and holed up in the prison of our own pride. And instead of suffering the full punishment for our sins for which we are guilty… Christ takes our place (Matt 27:26) And we often forget to thank Him.

We are Pilate. we want to give up when life is too challenging (Matt 27:24) we are ready to wash our hands of Christianity when being a follower of Jesus means pursuing virtue over mediocrity, a life of prayer over a life of pleasure.

We are Simon of Cyrene (Matt 27:32). we suffer reluctantly. We will take the cross but we won’t seek it. We will only take it if it’s been placed on our shoulders.

We are a passer-by. These passers-by mocked Jesus while He was hanging on the cross (Matt 27:30) How quickly they had forgotten all the good works He had done among their cities and towns. When popular opinion about Jesus changed, they followed suite. How quickly we forget the good He’s done for us. In a brief moment of pain all our gratitude is forgotten and replaced by resentment.

We are one of the Roman soldiers (Matt 27:35)we killed Jesus, our sins were the reason He was nailed to that cross. It was our fault and we know it.

But sometimes…

We are the centurion. Our eyes are opened to who Jesus is in our life (Matt 27:54)Our heart swells with the truth that God became man and died for us. And this knowledge brings us peace and a resignation to amend our life.

We are one of the women standing by the cross (Matt 27:55-56)When we open to God’s grace, we can be a faithful and constant Christian. In the midst of pain and suffering, we can stay close to the cross. Jesus, our beloved, is our strength and He’s all we need.

We are Joseph of Arimathea (Mat27:59) Again, only by God’s grace, we can be selflessly compassionate, putting others’ needs before our own. Moved by God, we will use what He has given us in the service of others. Our time, talent, and treasure are all for Him.

We are every character in the story of the passion and death of Christ. And I think that’s the whole point. Why wouldn’t every dimension of the human heart be represented in the greatest story of all time? It only makes sense because the story is timeless. We have to apply it to our lives today because the reality of it’s events matter today. This isn’t just a story in some history book. It’s the story of our salvation… how God saw the good and the bad in our humanity and He came anyway. He died anyway. We can be so extremely frank and say we killed Jesus. But we are also the reason He rose from the dead…..