St. John’s Gospel does not inspire pity or excessive sadness. The most distressing moments of Christ’s passion as narrated by St. John are peppered with subtle clues that Jesus is in no way being “caught,” or “dragged,” or “forced.” He is like a lamb led to the slaughter, it is true, but St. John lets us see that even those leading Him to His death received His help. Judas would have had a hard time handing him over if He hadn’t gone to the familiar Gethsemane. They couldn’t even recognize Him when they came to collect Him in the garden – they could have tried to pass off one of the other disciples for Jesus! Jesus passed through the midst of His persecutors so many times when they wanted to lay hands on Him. Now, when He says, “I am,” they are completely incapacitated and fall to the ground. What an illusion for them to think that they are taking Him against His will! Jesus heals the ear of the servant who came out as an enemy.
Holy Thursday
Origen points out that in the Gospel of St. John, Jesus washes the feet of his disciples after they have eaten. This appears to be out of sequence, because washing is supposed to happen before eating. The spiritual sense of this washing after having eaten is worth investigating. Peter’s reaction to this washing makes more sense if we understand how out of place it seems to be. During the mandatum at the Mass of Lord’s supper we have the foot washing before the liturgy of the Eucharist. Imagine if we all went to communion and then had a second foot washing. “That’s enough now! Don’t wash me anymore Lord!” It would seem unnecessary.
Tuesday of Holy Week
The Sacred Heart is the center of Holy Week. This is the key to understand the mystery of Christ’s Passion. There is something about the human heart that surpasses understanding and can only be understood from one heart to another. The secrets hidden in the heart are secrets because they simply cannot be put into words. Any attempt to replace the clear and decisive motions of the heart with reason and explanation clouds their purpose. Any attempt to evoke the yearnings and aches of the heart with poetry, music, or art seem dramatic or exaggerated. « Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point » “More tortuous than anything is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it? I, the LORD, explore the mind and test the heart, Giving to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their deeds.”