“While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he
said to his disciples, 'Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The
Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.' But they did not
understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp
it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.”
The Marvel and the
Mystery
In today’s Gospel, Jesus
makes His second announcement about His impending suffering and death (the
first being in Luke 9:21-27). This moment follows a miraculous event: Jesus has
just healed a boy possessed by a demon (Luke 9:37-42). The crowd is in awe,
marveling at His divine power and authority.
Amidst the applause and
wonder, Jesus draws His disciples into a quieter, more intimate moment. “Listen
carefully to what I am about to tell you,” He says, as if the noise of
admiration shields this intimate revelation from the wider crowd. In the midst of
triumph, He speaks of suffering—a juxtaposition that reveals the paradox of His
mission.
The Difficult Truth
Jesus’ revelation about
His betrayal and suffering is startling, especially against the backdrop of His
mighty deeds. How could this Messiah, who commands even the demons, be
delivered into the hands of men? It is a truth that clashes with the disciples'
expectations of a triumphant, victorious Messiah.
This difficult truth
underscores an essential reality of faith: God’s ways often defy human
understanding. His plan of salvation, rooted in the Cross, is not the path of
worldly glory but of divine love poured out through sacrifice.
The Veil of
Understanding
The disciples’ inability
to comprehend Jesus’ words reflects the mysterious nature of God’s plan. They
were afraid to ask Him, perhaps out of fear of the answer or their inability to
reconcile His words with their hopes.
This veil of
understanding reminds us of the limits of human perspective. In moments of
personal suffering or injustice, we, too, may find ourselves asking, “God,
where are You?” Yet faith calls us to trust even when clarity eludes us,
believing that God’s love and wisdom are at work behind the scenes.
The Paradox of the Cross
To a world that seeks
power, the Cross appears as weakness. Yet it is in the suffering of Jesus that
we see the fullness of divine love. He willingly embraced betrayal, injustice,
and death, bearing the weight of humanity’s sins since the fall of Adam and
Eve.
Through His prayer,
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” Jesus reveals
the depth of His mercy. In Him, we are reconciled with God, and suffering is
transformed. No longer is it meaningless; it becomes a path to redemption, a testament
to love and sacrifice.
Reflection
When life’s burdens, suffering,
injustice, humiliation, feel overwhelming, we are invited to look to Jesus. He,
who performed miracles and commanded authority, did not shy away from the
painful truth of His mission. Instead, He embraced it, inviting us to do the
same.
In the suffering of
Jesus, we find hope: a divine assurance that God’s love is at work even in the
darkest moments. His invitation to self-denial, to carry our crosses and follow
Him, is not a call to despair but a pathway to eternal life.
Let us draw near to
Jesus in moments of confusion and pain, trusting that the One who embraced the
Cross for our sake will guide us through our trials. In Him, our suffering is
not wasted; it becomes a means of grace, leading us to the fullness of life in
His eternal embrace.
May we hold fast to the
truth that, in Jesus, every pain holds the promise of redemption, every trial
the assurance of divine love.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father,
Amidst the wonders and mysteries of Your divine plan,
we come before You with humble hearts. Just as the disciples marveled at Jesus’
miracles, let us also find awe in Your eternal wisdom, even when it remains
veiled from our understanding.
Lord Jesus, You embraced the path of suffering and
sacrifice out of boundless love for us. Help us to trust in Your ways, even
when they are difficult to comprehend. In our moments of doubt or pain, draw us
closer to Your heart, reminding us that in every trial, Your love is
ever-present.
Strengthen our faith, O God, and grant us the grace to
walk alongside You, trusting in Your redemptive love that transcends all
earthly understanding.
We make our prayers through Christ our Lord, Amen!
.jpg)
The Cross of Chris is indeed a paradox. The punishement reserved for criminal in the Roman empire was what Jesus received. Thus he fulfilled the prophecy of the suffering messiah of Prophet Isaiah 53,5.
ReplyDelete