by Tom Cordaro
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
Mt 21:1-11 | Is 50:4-7 | Phil 2:6-11 | Mt 26:14—27:66 or 27:11-54
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
Last Sunday’s reflection focused on the challenge of living every day without fear in the hope of the resurrection. Today’s passion reading reminds us that the call to practice resurrection is not some Pollyanna-ish walk in the park. The gospel clearly shows us that those who follow Jesus, who live like him and love like him, will most likely get nailed like him.
The daily practice of resurrection does not exempt us from the pain and suffering of this mortal life. For Jesus, this truth was spelled out in our second reading, “he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). And in the description of the faithful servant in our first reading from Isaiah, (50:6) we read, “I gave my back to those who beat me.”
We can spend our mortal life in a vain attempt to protect our wealth, prestige, or ideologies, or we can let go of these things, humble ourselves, and live in the freedom of God. By choosing this freedom we can go into any place and among any people without fear, because we will have nothing to lose or protect. “God is my help; therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:7).
- Where in your life is God inviting you to let go of your need to control and protect in order to embrace the freedom of the resurrection?
This reflection was written by Tom Cordaro in this year’s Lenten reflection booklet, Embracing Possibilities: Reflections for Lent 2014, and is available as a download for purchase from the Pax Christi USA website.
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Paz, Amor y Aventura, Margaret M McChesney “No More Hurting People! Peace!” … poster with 2 red hearts and a peace sign made by 8-year old Martin Richard shortly before being killed by Boston Marathon Bomb.