Passion Sunday [A]

 


PASSION SUNDAY, CYCLE A


On Palm Sunday we will be hearing Matthew’s version of the Passion. Last year we heard from Luke’s version, and next year we will hear from Mark’s version. If you’re wondering about John’s version, we hear from his narrative every time we gather for the Good Friday liturgy. With each evangelist you will notice some unique element; something particular to that individual Gospel. In terms of Matthew, we can say that he’s the only one who follows through on the story of Judas. The others mention his betrayal, but they don’t say anything about his ultimate fate. Matthew is the only one who describes the regret and the subsequent suicide (see 27:3-10). 


Exactly how much sympathy should we be extending to Judas? Some novelists and some screenplays portray him as having good intentions—or at least intentions that stop short of being completely evil. It’s a strain, reconciling these sentiments with passages that reflect a tone of condemnation. For example, Judas expects to be rewarded for his role (Matt. 26:15). He practices deceit at the Last Supper (26:25). The betrayal takes the form of a kiss (26:49). He is referred to as a thief in John’s Gospel (12:4-6). Additionally, John quotes Jesus identifying Judas as the “son of perdition” (17:12). 


Perhaps, however, we’re missing the point. Argue for or against the character of Judas; the fact remains that he saw fit to take his own life. He allowed the voice of despair to have the last word. Contrast the example of Judas with the example of Simon Peter. Peter likewise will be overcome with regret. But in his case, the regret represents one part of a much larger picture. For Judas, the regret and the despair crowd everything else out. They occupy his entire field of vision. He sees no way forward and therefore the only option is to give up. Meanwhile, for Peter, a glimmer of hope can be detected. The regret and the despair are very real for Peter. They do take up a significant part of the picture. But he can see a shred of daylight just along the margin. This in turn explains his determination not to abandon all hope. 


When you commit a sin, the devil breaks into a smile. When you cave in to utter despair, the devil declares a ticker-tape parade. Follow the pattern of Judas, and you’ll be giving the devil a reason to celebrate. In other words, think of temptation as a conventional armament. And furthermore, think of despair as the devil’s atomic bomb. It’s possible, however, for the detonator to be disabled: fixate on the example of Peter, the man of hope. Be sure to recall his example, especially when the voice of despair begins to sound off. We can close with an observation from G.K. Chesterton. According to Chesterton, during the early stages of despair, hope translates as a kind of “platitude.”  It is when all seems to be lost that hope begins to graduate; reaching the point of becoming an actual strength. Like all Christian virtues… 


IT IS AS UNREASONABLE AS IT IS INDISPENSABLE (from his work, Heretics). 

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