April 13, 2025 at Saint Peter Churches in Naples, FL
Isaiah 50: 4-7 + Psalm 22 + Philippians 1: 6-11 + Luke 22: 14-23:56
Our prayer is long today, and we give to God some extra time to listen to his Word and remember the two gifts we have all been given: life and death. Without that second gift, the first one, life, would not be nearly as precious. In fact, it might actually be tedious, monotonous, and frightening.
While we live we have before us a troubling sign of God’s love with the memory and the image of an innocent man crucified. Over and over again in Luke’s Passion Jesus is found not-guilty, and yet, a victim of jealousy and fear he dies while everyone who knew him, who loved, who followed him everywhere said nothing. We like to think that the Romans killed him and the leaders of the people demanded it. But the truth is, silence killed him. Even Joseph of Aramathea, a member of the Sanhedrin who, Luke tells us, did not consent to their plan seems to have done nothing except bury the body of an innocent man.
We have much to remember and even more to ponder this Holy Week. What must not be forgotten is that silence in the face in any injustice is a terrible thing that leaves us all accountable and responsible for the suffering of innocent people. We gaze at the cross and hear its story over and over again to be reminded of what comes next, because it is not the end of our story of God’s love.
It is Easter that we really celebrate. It is the hope we have in the face of death that gives us reason to really live. For people like us who can see beyond the cross, hope always defeats despair, joy wins over sorrow, good triumphs over evil, and faith conquers fear.