Passion Sunday reflection

Like so many people today, sitting in church for our Passion Sunday service, I was struck by the utter fidelity of Jesus in the face of such abuse of power.
A reading from The Prophet Isaiah proclaims:

“The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.  Morning after morning God opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.”
50: 4-5

Given the gift of speech, given the gift of constancy, given the gift of compassion, the journey of Jesus was one of amazing attentiveness and discernment.  I was captivated by Jesus’ knowing what to say, when to say it and his presence to all that was happening around him.  I found myself questioning my own capacity to be that docile to the challenges of my life and the times we are now living.

I reflected upon all the people who are unemployed or underemployed and like Jesus were celebrated for the gifts they had, only to be abandoned.  I thought about the abuse of power in so many organizations, cities, countries with manipulation of people to achieve what  ‘leaders’ want.

The story of Jesus during these days of ‘holy week’ are filled with the ups and downs each of us know at some level.

May this ‘Passion Sunday’ be a reminder of the passion with which we are invited to live and love.