a lawless blog

In Mark's account it was Jesus who deliberately arranged his entry into the city by sending his disciples to borrow a donkey. The symbolism might not be immediately recognised, but later on the disciples would get the point, as John pointed out in his account. This event is so out of character for Jesus. How many times had he tried to silence anyone who wanted to acclaim him as the messiah, son of David, or son of God. But now he accepts the acclamation of the people unreservedly.

However the welcome by the people of Jerusalem is not the main feature of today's liturgical celebration. In fact it is only the introduction to the reading of the passion narrative, as it was historically only a prelude to the events of this great week. We cannot fail to notice that only six days later the people, at the urging of the high priests, would be calling for his death. Were they the same people? Possibly.

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In the narrative of the passion a series of signs are recorded, events that are presented as symbolic of important realities. First a woman lavishes an enormously expensive jar of fine perfume on him, and Jesus' accepts the gesture. In fact he defends her so strongly that we are invited to spend time wondering about it:

“She has done what she could.
She has anticipated anointing my body for burial.
Amen, I say to you,
wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world,
what she has done will be told in memory of her."

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Against the background of the religious authorities plotting to get him - but not during the festival because it might cause a riot, and Judas offering to hand him over to them at a suitable opportunity, the main drama is played out calmly and purposefully. Jesus sends another two disciples, this time to prepare a place for them to celebrate the passover. Mark manages to give the impression that Jesus is fully in command of developments.

Then the supper, in Mark's account crystallised in a few words.

While they were eating,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and gave it to them, and said,
"Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,
and they all drank from it.
He said to them,
"This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many...”

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I am inclined to stay with these last words, wondering whether we give enough importance to the covenant. For the Jews everything hinged on the covenant god had made with Abraham. It was seen as a commitment which god would always honour, no matter how often the people were unfaithful to it. For Jesus the whole purpose of his life was to enact a new covenant. The time had come for people to live the spirit of the law and not be seduced with formal and compromised observance of the letter of the law. The time had come for everyone to know god in his own heart and to live that relationship as Jesus had experienced it and taught it.

"This is my blood of the covenant," In that short phrase uttered in the drinking of a pledging cup of wine Jesus proclaimed the new covenant. Within hours he would seal it with his own life laid down in witness to the truth that darkness will not prevail, that death is not final, that selfless love will win in the end over selfish, conniving, greedy, bullying, lying power.

The new covenant is an affirmation of the spirit world in which there are dimensions of life more real and more permanent than this bodily phase. Yet paradoxically this bodily phase is so important that Jesus sets the standard of successful living: he went the whole way; he lived the truth, and gave his life in witness to the absolute value of personal integrity. Pilate was amazed, and the centurion thought he had witnessed the death of a son of god. The physical sanctuary of the temple was voided...

How long before we comprehend the new covenant?