Fr. Michael Williams

St Luke’s Gospel today reminds us today that Our Lord remained constant in two things.

Firstly, He remained constant in His faithfulness to God the Father, to God’s will, despite terrible sufferings. In the Passion account from St. Luke’s gospel, we see Jesus entrust Himself to the Father. In the garden of Gethsemane He prays, ‘Father, if you are willing take this cup away from me, Nevertheless, let your will be done not mine’. And then on the cross amidst so much pain He prays, ‘Father into your hands I commit my spirit’. Jesus trusts in the Father because He knows that His Sacrifice will save humanity, nothing else can. This is the Father’s business: saving humanity. Therefore it is Jesus’ business.

Secondly, Jesus is constant in His love for humanity; a humanity that often ridicules and scorns Him. Jesus ignores the scorn and ridicule. Again we are called to that same love. When He is carrying the cross Jesus only thinks of others. So when He meets the women weeping for Him He is the One to console them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, weep rather for yourselves and your children’. He shows heroic love too, by praying for His executioners, ‘Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing’. He is praying for each one of us at that moment too. And He also shows His love by forgiving the repentant thief who turns to Him, and who He promises paradise.

Jesus is constant in His love for God the Father, and His will, which is difficult at times; and also in His love for humanity, which is difficult at times. This unshakeable love of Christ’s saves us and open the gates of paradise for us. So as we begin Holy Week today let us enter deeply into the great mysteries which have redeemed us.