Preparing a retreat for a group of seminarians who were to be instituted as Lectors, I came across a text that struck me immensely. It is a poem attributed to St. Victorinus of Pettau, Bishop of the City of Poetovio (modern day Ptuj, in Slovenia) during the late third century and early fourth century. The first two lines of the poem read as follows: “The Messiah, lion to vanquish, made himself lamb to suffer.” This poem clearly refers to Jesus Christ, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” the eternal son of God the Father, who, for our salvation became “the lamb of God” offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. This poem perfectly illustrates the message of the readings of today.
Persecuted
In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah is persecuted for calling the people to conversion. As a clear image of Christ, Jeremiah is aware of the plotting of his enemies against him. Thus he refers to himself as “a trusting lamb led to the slaughter.” Indeed, he puts all his trust in the Lord. He lets Him be the judge of his enemies when he says: “Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause.” Jeremiah knows he is fulfilling the plan of God. When facing persecution, dangers, and threats he is willing to let God prove to his enemies that he is not speaking on his own name, but that he is sent by God. In some way, he, who could claim the power of being a prophet, accepts to be instead a lamb. To be subject to humiliation, slandered and even killed.
In like manner, we can see in the Gospel how Christ’s enemies begin to plot against him. There is a lot of confusion, because some believe Jesus to be “the Prophet,” or “The Christ.” But many others, especially the leaders of the people, consider him an impostor, a charlatan to the point that “some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.”
Impostor
In the readings of these remaining days of Lent we will see how the plotting of Christ’s enemies becomes more and more fierce. Indeed, there will be a crescendo in their animosity against this “impostor,” which will end up in the events that are at the center of the Easter Triduum: the passion, the death, and the resurrection of Christ. The amazing thing is that Christ never impedes this plotting from reaching its terrible end. On the contrary, He enters it and accepts it as the plan of God for our salvation. He, who truly is “the Prophet.” “The Christ.” The “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” out of love for us becomes “a lamb to suffer.” Thus, the Paschal Mystery is the manifestation of the immense love of a God for us. In order to give us His life, He descends from His throne of glory. He became man just to be able suffer and die for us, for our sins and for our slaveries.
Lamb
Let us contemplate this mystery today. We tend to prefer a Messiah who manifests Himself as a “Lion,” with power to change what we consider to be wrong in our lives. One who eliminates our sufferings, and who relieves us of problems and difficulties. Instead, let us get ready to recognize our savior in a “slaughtered lamb.” He who united Himself to our sufferings and difficulties. And who made His own all our weaknesses and limitations, and transformed them through the glorious power of His resurrection. May we all be able to experience the victory of this lamb, which we will celebrate throughout this time of Easter.
