For Jesus to have acted with courage means that he would have to have felt afraid. Did Jesus experience fear? The verse that comes to my mind is from Paul’s letter to the Romans: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” (Rom. 4:15) Jesus “emptied himself “(Phil.2:7) and became fully human while mysteriously remaining fully divine. He was tempted for 40 days in the desert, but also surely at many times throughout His life, and especially in His Passion. He experienced our weaknesses to sympathize with us.
Courageous Obedience
The beginning of the Passion of Our Lord is Palm Sunday. The intensity of suffering begins with intense rejoicing. Jesus enters Jerusalem obediently fulfilling prophecy, “your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt…” (Zechariah 9:9; Jn. 12:15) and is greeted like King David’s heir. Days later He is beaten, scourged, crucified, also in obedience to his Father’s will. Jesus, being divine, must have known what was coming. He had warned His followers about His death more than once. Yet He still chose to ride into Jerusalem that day. He still chose to stumble out of Jerusalem days later carrying His cross.
Courageous Love
What motivates a person to overcome fear with courage? There can be different motivations. For many, the motivation is love. Jesus seems to have the same motivation. (Jn. 14-17) His obedience to the will of the Father was motivated by love, the same love that gave Him the courage to overcome His fear. His free act of courageous obedience is what revealed His love for us. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn. 15:13)
As we listen to today’s readings in the Holy Mass, we are invited to open our hearts to the greatness of His love- love for His Father’s will and love for each of us. This love that would do anything to give us the chance to be together with Him in Eternity reaches out to our hearts today with a question: “Is your love for Me courageous like My love is for you?”
[Readings: Mk 11:1-10; Is 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Mk 14:1—15:47]
