“While We Were Still Sinners”
By Veronica Caballero, Fiat Ventures
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
This Sunday is known by many to have the longest Gospel reading we’ll read at Mass all year. The Gospel is the account of Jesus’ passion and while it is lengthy, there’s so much to be taken from it. One thing that jumps out at me from the Passion this year is summed up by St. Paul in his letter to the Romans; “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.
In this account of Jesus passion, we are walked through it all from the beginning, when Pilate offers the crowd to choose one prisoner to be released, Jesus, the son of God, or Barabbas, a murderer. Jesus is betrayed by the people whom he loved, as they chose Barabbas over Him, and instead of choosing Him, chanted for him to be crucified instead. We are then walked through when the soldiers clothed Him in purple and placed a crown of thorns on His head, mocking Him, as they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Jesus once again was betrayed by the people whom He loved, as they struck His head and spat upon Him. Finally, we are brought to Golgotha, Place of the Skull, where Jesus would be crucified. He was crucified, His garments were divided among the soldiers, and He was taunted as He hung on the cross. The chief priests and scribes said things like, “He saved others; He cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Mark 15:29-32. Once again, He was betrayed by the people whom He loved.
Countless times, just on that day alone, Jesus was mocked and tortured, forgotten and abandoned, yet He still freely chose to give His life for each and every one of these people that betrayed him. Even in the moments of betrayal, He chose them.
And during his passion not only did He feel the pain of being betrayed by the people He had loved and served during his time on earth then, but He felt the pain of knowing that all of humanity, in our brokenness, would at one point or another do the same. Think of the times we’ve chosen to turn our backs on God. Sometimes it seems like we may fall and do this daily, choosing our own will instead of choosing to love Him.
Christ, in His infinite love and mercy, died for us while we were still sinners. He didn’t wait until we apologized or repented for our wrongdoings. He didn’t selectively choose to save only the most well-behaved disciples. He saw all of us, knew all of us, and chose to love us and save us just as we are.
Christ is the greatest example of love. Christ shows us what true, authentic, life giving love looks like. This is a love He calls us all to: a dedication to love even in the midst of suffering and a choosing to love even, and, especially when it’s difficult. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners and he asks us to love others in just the same way.