Feast of Saint Joseph of Persia (22 Apr 2008)

Saint John reports to us in the fourth gospel that on the night of the Last Supper, Our Lord said to his apostles gathered in the upper room with him: “The ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.” Now, what’s that all about?Let me paraphrase Our Lord’s words into our way of speaking: “My betrayer, Judas Iscariot, whom I chose to be one of my disciples, apostles, and first bishops of my church, is coming soon to identify me to the soldiers of the high priest so that they can apprehend me and lead me to my death. He has no power over me. I will go, not because I will have fallen victim to the plots of my enemies and not because I will be defenseless against them. I will go because it is the will of my Father, the Almighty God, that I accomplish the salvation of the world through my suffering and death. And my greatest concern is to do the will of my Father. He and I are in total agreement that I should suffer and die for your redemption.”

We speak of the day on which Jesus died as “Good Friday.” And we Catholics place crucifixes in our homes, churches, and many other places as well. Saint Paul says in one of his letters, “We preach Christ and Him crucified.” When we look at a crucifix, we see the image not of a loser—a man who fell into the clutches of his enemies who inflicted death upon him—but rather of a winner, who overcame sin and death and could say to the thief on the cross next to his own, with all the assurance and majesty in the world, “This day, you will be with me in Paradise.” And then, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Those are not the words of a loser, but of a winner—a savior who has achieved his purpose. “I do just as the Father has commanded me.” That is why the crucifix is such a precious symbol to us: On the cross, Jesus our redeemer died that we might live with him, both in this world, and forever. Thank you for seeking God’s truth. God bless you. Father Victor Brown, O.P.