The Son of Man must be handed over
Today's readings give us a glimpse in the silent sorrow of our Lord during certain moments of his earthly life. In the first place, the scriptures whose correct interpretation he knew better than any other person, constantly reminded him of is horrible end. Today's reading from the book of Wisdom predicted almost word for word, the reasoning and plans of Jesus' enemies: "...For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him." Jesus was aware of this, both in the scriptures and in the hearts of his enemies.
Secondly, his friends from whom he would have expected comprehension failed to understand him. The first time he had told them about what awaited him in Jerusalem, Peter had taken him aside trying to dissuade him to do what he knew to be his Father's will; the very Peter who had seemed to have understood by divine inspiration Jesus' true identity. Even after the stern admonition of Peter and the somber explanation to all about the necessity of the cross for all his followers, they show the same lack of understanding on another occasion when he announces his impending death. Worse, this time they immediately afterwards start arguing among themselves who the greatest is. It would seem that the announcement of his coming death occasions the question who will succeed him. How painful it must be for anyone facing an imminent painful death to discover that those dearest to him or her are preoccupied with succession of power and property.
The three readings warn us about what jealousy and ambition can lead to. in the second reading, James tells us: "where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice". This is what we see both in the first reading and in the gospel. Jealousy and selfish ambition blinded the religious leaders of Jesus' time to the point of plotting the killing of the Son of God. Their plans seemed to them to be perfect, yet they were doomed to failure, for as we heard in the responsorial Psalm, the Lord upholds the cause of the just one. The one they planned to kill was destined to rise, just as he predicted. In the gospel, we learn that ambition had even infiltrated the hearts of Jesus' apostles when they argued among themselves who was the greatest. None of us is completely free from ambition and jealousy. So how do we overcome them?
In the first place, we do so through humility Jesus told his disciples: "If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all." Secondly, by allowing ourselves to be led by Wisdom from above, not by self-indulgence. James told us: "the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it also makes for peace, and is Kindly and considerate; it is full of compassion and shows itself by doing good..." God comes down to the hearts of those who show concern to the least among humanity. Jesus took a child and said to his disciples: "Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me".
