This is the week. The week that left a lasting impression on those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus. It’s a week of action and consequences. How do we even approach this week? Do we do so humbly and solmenly, remembering what Jesus went through? Do we do so with frightful anticipation of what is about to happen? Do we do so thinking how could any of this happen?
The events of this week are commonly known as the Passion of Jesus Christ. Its a funny word to use, passion. In its strict use here, it is meant as suffering. I’ve never thought of passion as suffering. I’ve usually equated passion to mean something we pour ourselves into. People talk about what their life’s passion is, meaning what consumes their thoughts, their vision, their activity. Sometimes we speak of passion as in the sense of love. Our passion burns hot for the person we love.
Passion as suffering is not where our mind usually goes. Maybe we should reorient our thinking and understanding. Jesus’ passion in life was to make the good news of God known, available, and a part of our lives. Jesus’ passion in life was to be a force for showing the unending love of God to the world around him. Jesus’ greatest command to us was to love one another, as he has loved us. There’s real passion in that statement, don’t you think?
But passion as suffering, is that really something we can understand? Well, if Jesus’ passion was bringing love to us, maybe suffering is a great part of that. Sometimes I think, we love those who are easy to love. We love those who seemingly love us in return. We love those who don’t ask too much of us. We love those who provide for us. Do we love as easily those who are hard to love? Do we love those who give us problems, and who seem to reject our love? Do we love those it takes great effort to love?
Maybe this is where the passion comes in. Maybe love isn’t all roses and rainbows. Maybe love isn’t meant to be easy. Maybe love is meant to be struggled for and through. Maybe love burns the hottest and brightest when we suffer because of it. We don’t like to think in those terms, but it may be worth our consideration. If love is only meant to be easy, without conflict or chaos, can it really be defined as love?
When we go to the extreme to love each other, that’s the real test of love, isn’t it? When we are willing to suffer and still find our love is intact, and not only intact but even burning hotter, wouldn’t that be real love?
Jesus loved and loves us even in the depths of his suffering. Jesus loves us when we make it so very hard to do so. Jesus loves us, when even we don’t love ourselves. This is what this week is really all about. A love that goes beyond all reason, beyond all logic, but goes there because of its unconditional nature.
We are a blessed people when we realize the breadth and depth of God’s love for us. When we are able to comprehend God will love us to the ends of the earth, we in turn are learning to love in a much more passionate way. May this week be a week of contemplation for each of us. May we come to know God’s love in a deeper way. May we not only feel God’s love for us, may God’s love prompt us to love others likewise.
Your companion on the Way,
Pastor Tom