We tend to think of the paschal mystery – Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection – as a two-part narrative. Initially, Jesus, the sinless one, is betrayed, convicted and executed. In part one, Jesus is defeated by evil and sin. But then the Father vindicates him and raises him from the dead. In the sequel, at the moment of his resurrection Jesus is victorious.
Upon further reflection, throughout the paschal mystery divine love in Jesus is never defeated, but proves supreme every step of the way of the cross. How can he be victorious despite his betrayal and abandonment by his disciples, his unjust conviction by the chief priests and scribes, and his humiliation and eventual execution by the Romans?
I recall a parable about a prison camp that strictly forbade any form of music. Anyone who sang was severely punished. It was thus a cold and dreary prison camp. But one day the prisoners were surprised to hear someone strumming a guitar and singing songs of freedom, love and solidarity. They followed the trail of music which led them to the center of the courtyard where they found a fellow inmate making music. They clapped and swayed as he sang eloquently about their deepest desires. But then the wardens swooped down upon him, pulled out his fingers and one by one chopped them off, so certain they had put an end to music in their camp.
But the next day, there he was again. With his finger stumps he tried to strum his guitar as he rousingly sang about freedom, love and harmony. The other inmates started singing along with him until the wardens swooped upon him and tore off his tongue. The third day there he was still. And in order to put a halt to his music-making, the wardens smashed his guitar over his head. On the fourth day, he squatted at the center of the courtyard and moaned his songs of liberation and solidarity. Drawn to his soulful groaning the other inmates gathered round him and on his behalf sang enthusiastically the songs they learned from him. The wardens finally beat him up till he lay lifeless. They then threw his body over the prison walls.
The next day, the wardens were surprised to hear thunderous singing reverberate through the prison corridors. They headed for the courtyard and found the very center empty. But all the inmates gathered round that sacred spot where once sang their fellow inmate. They sang with such vigor that the wardens despite all their might could not silence them.
Throughout his passion Jesus is telling us, “You may betray me and desert me, but I will continue to sing of God’s offer of friendship. You may unjustly convict me; nonetheless I will continue to sing my Father’s mercy. You may scourge me at a pillar and nail me to a cross, but I will continue to sing of divine compassion.”
In Jesus who could not be silenced by opposition and threats, divine love proved victorious. In Jesus who refused to bow before corrupt political and religious leaders, divine love proved undefeated. In Jesus who remained faithful to his Father, to his mission and convictions until his last breath, divine love proved triumphant. Divine love proved victorious not only at the moment of Jesus’ resurrection, but at every step of his way to Calvary.
This Holy Week as we commemorate Jesus’ dying and rising to life anew, we ask ourselves whether our lives bear witness to the supremacy of love. When we refuse to forgive our offenders, we are saying that hatred and bitterness will have the last word. When we give up on our nation, we are proclaiming that cynicism and despair have the last say. When we build walls across ethnic and religious lines, we are communicating that animosity and fear will ultimately prevail.
As we contemplate your steadfast love till the end, we pray, Lord Jesus, that your indomitable love dwell within us so that our lives bear witness to the supremacy of love.