Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The fourth article of the Apostle’s Creed is “Jesus Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, He was crucified, He died, He was buried” There are ten (10) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 619.
As followers of the Lord we often see a Crucifix depicting the saving death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Sometimes as a pendant around the neck on the wall at home or work the Crucifix reminds us of the price of our salvation. Each Holy Mass sacramentally makes Jesus’ one only sacrifice present in our midst, in our day. The solemn liturgy of Good Friday with the Passion proclaimed and the Cross venerated reminds us of Jesus’ saving death as do the Stations of the Cross and the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.
The saving death of Jesus Christ on the Cross is referred to in Sacred Scripture in numerous passages. The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights the following:
“Though He was harshly treated, He submitted and opened not His mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, He was silent and opened not His mouth. Oppressed and condemned, He was taken away, and who would have thought any more of His destiny? When He was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of His people.” “Because of His affliction He shall see the light in fullness of days; Through His suffering, My servant shall justify many, and their guilt He shall bear. Therefore I will give Him His portion among the great, and He shall divide the spoils with the mighty.” (Isaiah 53:7-8, 11-12).
On the road to Emmaus (cf. Luke 24:25-27, 44-45) the risen Lord Jesus rebuked the disciples for being “slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!” After this the Lord Jesus explained and interpreted all of the passages of Sacred Scripture which refer to Himself. The Lord Jesus predicts His Passion and sees it’s approach (cf. Jn 8:34-36). The saving death of Jesus Christ is said to have been “announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets” (cf. Acts 3:18). The Prophets are said to have “foretold the coming of the righteous one” Jesus Christ who was betrayed and murdered (cf. Acts 7:52). Saint Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch began with the Prophet Isaiah and continued to proclaim Jesus Christ, including His saving death on the Cross (cf. Acts 8:32-35). Jesus’ burial after His saving death was likewise and accomplishment of all that was written about Him (cf. Acts 13:29). The suffering and death of Jesus Christ was foretold by Moses and the prophets (cf. Acts 26:22-23).
So, even in our own day and age we repeat with Saint Paul “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Amen!
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr