Apr 7, 2014
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Philippians 2:6-11
Matthew 26:14-27:66
"All this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets may be
fulfilled," Jesus says in today's Gospel (see Matthew
26:56).
Indeed, we have reached the climax of the liturgical year, the
highest peak of salvation history, when all that has been
anticipated and promised is to be fulfilled.
By the close of today's long Gospel, the work of our redemption
will have been accomplished, the new covenant will be written in
the blood of His broken body hanging on the cross at the place
called the Skull.
In His Passion, Jesus is "counted among the wicked," as Isaiah had
foretold (see Isaiah
53:12). He is revealed definitively as the Suffering Servant
the prophet announced, the long-awaited Messiah whose words of
obedience and faith ring out in today's First Reading and
Psalm.
The taunts and torments we hear in these two readings punctuate the
Gospel as Jesus is beaten and mocked (see Matthew
27:31), as His hands and feet are pierced, as enemies gamble
for His clothes (see Matthew
27:35), and as his enemies dare Him to prove His divinity by
saving Himself from suffering (see Matthew
27:39-44).
He remains faithful to God's will to the end, does not turn back in
His trial. He gives Himself freely to His torturers, confident
that, as He speaks in today's First Reading: "The Lord God is My
help...I shall not be put to shame."
Destined to sin and death as children of Adam's disobedience, we
have been set free for holiness and life by Christ's perfect
obedience to the Father's will (see Romans
5:12-14,17-19; Ephesians
2:2; 5:6).
This is why God greatly exalted Him. This is why we have salvation
in His Name. Following His example of humble obedience in the
trials and crosses of our lives, we know we will never be forsaken.
We know, as the centurion today, that truly this is the Son of God
(see Matthew
27:54).