FROM SEPARATION TO UNION

Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year B

IS 50:4-7; PS 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; PHIL 2:6-11; MK 14:1—15:47

We all have our own stories of separation. Some of us cannot forget that childhood experience when one fine morning while walking around the busy market with our mother, we were suddenly separated away from her, and all that we can do was simply to cry out for help. Some of us cannot also forget those teenage moments when after enjoying the company of our "significant other" for years, one fine evening, we realize that we are not meant for each other. Wala pa lang forever! And of course, who can never forget those dark events in our lives when forever we were separated from our loved ones because of death. These stories of separation are unforgettable because they have left us painful memories in our lives. They are painful because of the closeness we have established with these people over the years.

We just heard the passion narrative of Jesus according to the Gospel of Mark. It is very clear from our story that Jesus was in pain and suffering because of the physical assault which he received from the Jews and soldiers alike. Harsh words and mockeries too contributed to his agonizing pain. However, if we try to look closely into the narrative, we realize that what all the more increased Jesus' pain and suffering was his experience of separation. Jesus was separated from his people whom he has served for three years. He was separated from his disciples who fled and ran away when he was seized at Gethsemane. He was separated from Peter who denied him for three times. He was separated from the women especially his mother who has ministered to his needs well. Finally, at the moment of his death, his soul was separated from his body. Indeed, Jesus' experience of separation shows to us how fully human he was.

This is also our experience in life. We get hurt because of the physical pain people inflict upon us. However, this is nothing compared to the pain brought about by an unexpected separation. We all the while think that this person is our friend, yet, at the moment of difficulty, he/she is the first one to run away from us. We all the while think that this loved one will be with us until the end, yet, out of a sudden, he/she loses his/her own life. All these are our own share of separations in life.

However, our second reading today reminds us of a deeper reality when we talk about the passion of Jesus Christ. Yes, on the first level, the passion is a story about separations. Yet, in his letter to the Philippians, Paul preaches that “though Jesus was in the form of God, he did not deem equality with God, something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave being born in the likeness of men...and remained obedient even unto death, death on a cross." Thus, the passion narrative is therefore a story of union between God and man. At the Incarnation, Jesus became closer to us. However, at his passion and death, Jesus was closest to us because he united himself to our innermost fears and worries on life and death.

This is therefore our challenge today as we tell our own passion narratives- that we read them not simply as stories of separation but as moments of closer encounter with the Crucified Christ. Pope Francis when he was in UST was asked by a little girl why innocent children like her suffer from the hands of cruel people. The Pope was not able to give a straightforward answer. Rather, he invited the child to respond to Jesus' invitation to "come to him all those who are weary and find life burdensome for his yoke is easy and burden light." Only when we unite our stories of separation to Christ can they become stories of union, of encounter between us and a merciful and most loving God.

As we enter into the holiest days of the week, may we separate ourselves from our sins so that we can truly meditate and experience the grace of Jesus, who suffered, died, and was buried. Amen!

N.B. Photo taken from www.patheos.com