Isaiah 50:4-9a Philippians 2:5-11 Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Psalm 31:9-16

Pilate asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?”  Jesus responded, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.  Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

After years of preaching from the mountain top and teaching in the synagogue, feeding the hungry and healing the sick; after years of having all the answers for friend and foe – direct references to the Hebrew scripture, timeless parables, even questions as the answer to questions – now, Jesus has fallen silent.  Standing unjustly accused before the chief priests and the governor, after years of comforting his followers and confounding his adversaries, Jesus gives no answer.

This is the transition of Passion Sunday; Passion Sunday is a day of two extremes:  We begin with the celebration of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, processing with our palms, singing that glorious hymn – All glory, laud and honor to thee, Redeemer, King – “King of Israel,” “David’s royal Son,” “Blessed One.”  This is Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem; the week of this final visit will be fraught with growing tension and controversy, which Jesus, himself, ignites and brings to a head.  The week will end with denial and betrayal and death – profound silence.  [Fortunately, we are well aware of how next week will begin].

But, today, we stand with Jesus before Pilate.  Jesus, laden with our sins – the sins of all humanity; at this necessary time, Jesus has emptied himself.  As described by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians [the Christ Hymn] Jesus, emptying himself of his divinity, being found in human form, humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on the cross – being found in human form.

As we breathe in the reality of the Passion Narrative, we are humbled again and again by this one full and perfect sacrifice for the sake of all creation.  Say to yourself, “Jesus did this for me.”

As you breathe in the reality of the Passion Narrative, stand with Jesus and with all who stand alone before an unjust accuser.  Consider the weight of the Cross, the burdens that Jesus bore for our sake, fully human as we are human, collapsing under the weight of the Cross as we have often felt we will collapse under the weight of our earthly burdens.  Contemplate the indignity of being stripped naked, mocked, and spat upon.  Jesus, fully human, bore the physical and emotional pain to the same degree as any other human.  Jesus lived and died as one of us; Jesus knows our suffering and fear; Jesus willingly and silently without resistance takes our suffering and fear upon himself.

As you breathe in the reality of the Passion Narrative, as you move into the silence and solemnity of Holy Week, be affirmed that you do not stand abandoned before unjust accusers; you do not bear the weight of the Cross on your shoulders alone; and that, as you suffer the indignities of this world in the name of Jesus Christ, you remain in solidarity with our Lord Jesus Christ who being found in human form, humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on the cross.

Blessed Holy Week.