I believe the Sacred Liturgy is there to “get us in the mood”—and that’s especially true during Holy Week. Today, the way to get in the mood is to forget—only for today—that there is a Resurrection. Only then can we understand Jesus’ agony in the garden—which we reflected upon on Palm Sunday. Jesus did not want to die, but he submitted to God’s plan out of love for God and out of love for his disciples. This is why early in today’s reading of the Passion according to John, Jesus will say, “So if you are looking for me, let these go.” Yes, we construct a whole theology of Jesus dying on the Cross for our salvation. And that is true, but historically Jesus died so he could save those he loved. Love under fire, love as the opposite of fear.
Despite being the one who should be afraid, because he is absolutely aware of what is going to happen to him–“knowing everything that was going to happen to him”–Jesus is the only character in the Passion who is not moved by fear. Fear motivates everyone else. The reflection we propose today is that fear keeps us from being authentic disciples of Jesus, from living life fully.
There is fear in Judas, disappointed that Jesus has not fulfilled his expectations, and fear makes him get “a band of soldiers and guards” to go to encounter Jesus–the non-violent–armed with weapons.
It is out of fear that Peter denies Jesus three times—which in gospel language means a total, absolute denial. Notice that what Peter is asked is whether he is a disciple. And he actually answers with the truth, because then and there he is not. Fear has gotten in the way of his being a disciple. Fear has moved him to an act of violence when Jesus is arrested in the garden. He had indeed begun to deny Jesus way before he actually does it with words—and we see so often violence as a consequence of fear.
Fear keeps Pontius Pilate from doing the right thing—the text indicates clearly that he was utterly convinced of what was the right thing to do but “he became even more afraid”. Fear of losing control and power, fear of the Jewish authorities and fear of the crowds, fear that the incident will undermine his reputation. He tries to find a way out, find a compromise, but compromise is often the child of fear. In fear he simply does not come through on behalf of the innocent.
Fear of losing power and control also drives the High Priest and the authorities of the time. In their conspiracy-driven minds they know—and there are right—that Jesus means an end to the corruption, the oppression and the hypocrisy that has become their way of life. They had built a religion of fear, and Jesus would not fit in that construction.
Fear also drives the crowds, who a few days earlier were receiving Jesus in the Holy City with hosannas, but who today call out, “Crucify him!,” playing a decisive part in killing Jesus. Fear makes us often part of anonymous crowds who contribute to injustice.
Fear of what they know they do not understand moves the Roman soldiers to mock Jesus—as so often mocking, bullying, abusing is simply the result of fear, especially fear of the unknown, fear of those who are different than us.
Fear keeps most of the disciples—especially the men—away from the Cross. Judas betrayed, and Peter denied, but the rest stayed at a distance when Jesus agonizes on the Cross–only the women are at the foot of the Cross.
We cannot understand the Cross if we do not realize that Jesus is still nailed to a Cross made out of fear. Fear can also run our lives, keeping us from living fully, as human beings and as disciples. Good Friday becomes a prayer that we will not be a fearful people, but that we will have to courage to live fully, siding with the neglected, the victim, the innocent. Only if we remove fear from our lives we can bring Jesus down from the Cross on which he is still hanging today.
From the Pastor's Digital Desk 
