Since Advent Sunday, the Church has been teaching us about the spectacular ministry of Jesus Christ, Abraham’s true offspring and David’s true heir, God’s own Son, Immanuel, born of the Virgin to give our lost humanity a new start. We have delighted to hear his authoritative teaching, experience his powerful healings, marvel at his miracles. We have taken our place with those who love to hear him, touch him and follow him. Wouldn’t we love to elect him president, acclaim him emperor, pledge ourselves to him?

Jesus cautioned his disciples over and over again that this astonishing popularity was temporary, that his ministry was going to end in horror and defeat. They heard the words but could never really absorb the meaning. How could all of this that is so good and great get crushed into nothing?

Yet how could it not happen? This is a fallen, twisted world full of fallen twisted people and when true good comes into the world, evil despises him. When true light comes into the world, the darkness extinguishes him. When true love comes into the world, hatred howls against him.

And all those exuberant fans changed sides or slipped away and those close friends and followers, as flawed and fallen as anyone else, were crushed into despair – running away, denying him, leaving him to face his terrible trial alone.
Jesus knew that everyone else had this wrong. He knew that this was not defeat but battle; not the end but the new beginning. He knew that beside true good evil is less than nothing. In the presence of true light, darkness disappears. Where love triumphs hatred turns to joy. The end of this story is victory for Emmanuel – God with us.

But there is no shortcut, no way to evade the battle with its agonizing suffering and abandonment. Jesus goes deep into the abyss of this Holy Week because that is the only way to reach his lost people and bring them home.

For us too there is no other way to the risen life of Easter except through the valley of the shadow of death, the Way of the Cross. That is what the Church invites us to do in symbol and sacrament, sharing the enthusiasm and the fecklessness of the crowds, as well as the broken-hearted despair of his followers in order to know the true victory of the people of God.

God bless you as you walk this Holy Week with our Savior Jesus Christ.