Contemplating the Passion with Luke
Contemplating the Passion with Luke
By Fr Tom O'Reilly SSC
We now focus on those pivotal events in Jerusalem which Luke calls Jesus’ exodus (Lk 9:31) or being taken up (9:51). The Gospel has been steadily moving towards these events, which are the point of departure for the story in the Acts of the Apostles. For Luke, Jesus’ death is the ultimate expression of his commitment to and trust in God. The resurrection is God’s faithful response to that commitment and trust. The ascension, which only Luke reports, is the moment of Jesus’ arrival in his Father’s house (cf. 2:49), from where he sends the Spirit on his disciples to enable them to continue his mission.
Having lamented over Jerusalem, the city of his destiny, Jesus teaches in the Temple, the centre of Jewish life and the power base of the Jewish leaders (19:29-21:38). They question his authority, trying to trip him up in his teaching (20:1-8.20-40). In the parable of the wicked tenants (20:9-19), he points out that their rejection of him as God’s prophet and beloved son is the culmination of a history of unresponsiveness on the part of Israel. Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple (19:45-46) and his remarks about the poor widow’s offering (21:1-4) can be taken as his critique of the Temple’s economic system which enriches those in power and robs the poor of basic necessities. No wonder the authorities want this popular prophet out of the way (cf. 19:47-48; 20:19)! In bringing his Temple ministry to a close, Jesus encourages his followers to remain steadfast and watchful in difficult times ahead, assuring them of final salvation with the coming of the Son of Man (21:5-36).
 |
Here I focus on the passion narrative (22:1-23:56) as a call to discipleship, which is a particularly Lukan emphasis. Luke wants us to keep our attention firmly fixed on Jesus with a view to imitating him. He highlights the response of disciples, prompting his readers to ask how they would respond to a suffering and crucified Master. Luke, unlike the other Synoptic evangelists, has a farewell speech to disciples on the occasion of Jesus’ last meal with them, in which Jesus calls for a life of service, despite failure in discipleship and difficulties in their future mission (22:14-38). |
On the Mount of Olives, Jesus gives disciples an example of persevering prayer which enables one to follow God’s path of non-violence and love of enemies (22:39-53). In telling us of Jesus’ treatment before the Jewish leaders, Pilate and Herod (22:63-23:25), Luke stresses the innocence of Jesus whom he sees as the righteous man of the Psalms who is unjustly persecuted and the Servant of Second-Isaiah who suffers vicariously for others. But Luke is also interested in how a disciple is responding at this time. Unlike Mark and Matthew, he places the account of Peter’s denials (22:54-62) before the account of the proceedings against Jesus, thus highlighting the importance of commitment to a persecuted Master.
Luke also begins his account of events on Calvary with the focus on discipleship. He presents Simon of Cyrene as the model disciple who carries the cross behind Jesus (23:26). The women on the way, who mourn for Jesus, are portrayed as disciples who suffer with him and are open to his call for repentance (23:27-31). Luke wants us to stand with the acquaintances of Jesus who are contemplating what is happening on Calvary (23:49). Though they stand at some distance, Luke never tells us in his passion story that the disciples deserted Jesus. To contemplating disciples Jesus is presented as one who forgives enemies (23:34), saves others rather than himself (23:35.39.43), and prayerfully trusts in God in the face of death (23:46).
Luke contrasts the contemplative stance of the disciples, the centurion and one of the criminals with the blind unresponsiveness of the leaders and the other criminal. Where do we stand and how do we respond when the Lord is crucified in the ongoing drama of the passion in today’s world?
[Gospel of St Luke - Reflections by Fr Tom O'Reilly SSC]