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The Wounds of Jesus: blood and water from his side

For them it was just a part of a brutal execution. Only later would his followers see its significance. A Roman soldier thrust a spear into Jesus' side to ensure his death. "Immediately blood and water flowed out." (John 19, 34) Blood, a sign of his life, flows upon those standing beneath his cross. Water, which signifies the Spirit living within him, is poured out upon the world they represent. Death, far from ending his life, becomes the moment he shares his life. "This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ." (I John 5,6) Earlier in John's Gospel, Jesus used these same symbols to describe his mission. He invited the thirsty to come to him and drink, and "from within him rivers of living water shall flow." (John 7, 3738) Now on Calvary, his promise is fulfilled, as the Prophet Zechariah had written: "On that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity." (Zechariah 13, 1) In this Gospel, too, Jesus called his blood "true drink" in the synagogue at Caphernaum. "Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day... Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them." (John 6,53-56) Water and blood flowing from the wounds of Jesus are important signs in John's Gospel interpreting his death as a saving mystery. They become important signs, too, of the mystery of his resurrection.

The prayer of Jesus in the garden

by Victor Hoagland, C.P.

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, Sit here while I pray. Mark 14, 32

The scene of the agony in the garden was an ancient olive farm where our blessed Lord frequently retired to pray to his Father. The time was about midnight on the eve of the first Good Friday. The paschal moon, filtering through the olive trees, spotlights this dramatic scene. Our blessed Lord prostrates himself upon the rocky soil clutching at the very ground for support. He groans in distress and writhes in physical agony. His usual calmness deserts him as he keeps repeating the same prayer over and over again: Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. Great beads of sweat appear on the face of Jesus as a shattering storm engulfs his soul. Gradually, the sweat turned in crimson as his prayer increased in its intensity. Soon, his entire body perspires...a sweat of blood. What are the causes of this internal martyrdom of our Lord? What is this cup which he pleads with his Father to remove? He has just witnessed a Preview of his Passion. Picture after picture, the various sufferings of the Passion flashed through his mind. The crucifixion, stark and terrifying, loomed up before him and caused his sensitive soul to recoil in terror. Once again he pleads with his Father, If it is possible... Yet Christ did not run away from the Cross and the suffering that he knew awaited. Nor did he take the easy way out. He suffered this incredible agony in reparation for our sins. The conclusion is obvious. We cannot live a comfort-at -all-costs philosophy of life. To follow

Christ calls for an unrelenting struggle with the tendencies to sin found in the make-up of each of us. Prayer
Come, let us adore Jesus Christ praying in the garden. When Jesus arrived at Gethsemane, he said to his disciples: Stay here while I go over there and pray. Psalm 63, 2-9 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Reading: Hebrews 5, 7-8 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered . Intercessions Lord Jesus, you taught us to watch and pray, lest we be overcome by temptation. We confidently ask you: Lord, share with us your own spirit of prayer. By your prayer in the garden, you prepared for your passion and death; help us, your disciples, to be in intimate communion with our God in every event of our life. In the garden , you persevered in prayer even when distressed to the sweating of blood; grant that, by prayer, we may live with God despite distress and sorrow. Lord, at your Father's bidding, you gladly drank the cup of your passion;

 create in us a like thirst to do the Father's will. Sustained by your prayer, you gave yourself up to those who seized you unjustly; help us to find in prayer the strength to be faithful in trials and difficulties. Our Father...

Lord our God, in his agony in the garden, Jesus, your Son, taught us by word and example how to pray in time of trial. Keep us always faithful to prayer, that we may reap its rich harvest of grace. We ask this though our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus is condemned to death

Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. John 19, 16

Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate. After his arrest in the garden, he was taken for a hurried hearing that led to his judgment and condemnation. Prompted by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate, judged him and sentenced him to death.

Most likely Jesus was just another obscure Jew to Pilate, unexpectedly thrust before him the day before a hectic Jewish feast, when the Romans stood poised, battle-ready, to crush any sign of Jewish disorder or rebellion. Pilate's priority that day was to keep order in the restive city. Controlling Jerusalem was far more important than the innocence of the One who stood before him. And so Jesus was condemned as a possible troublemaker. The Roman process was quick, unfair, and without appeal. A show of raw, impersonal power. Once sentenced, Jesus was handed over to executioners who immediately began to taunt and torture him till his death. The psalms mirror the mind of Jesus. Listen to the cry of the innocent sufferer in Psalm 69. Can we hear the voice of Jesus caught in this web of injustice?
Save me, God, for the waters have reached my neck... Too many for my strength are my treacherous enemies.

Yet deep within, Jesus knew that God's judgment matters most, and he trusted the judgment of God whatever others might say. Lord, may we too be faithful to the truth and do your will, no matter how we are judged by others. Prayer
Come, let us adore Christ our Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin. The Lord does not judge by appearances, but in justice and truth. Psalm 69, 2-5 Save me, God, for the waters have reached my neck, I have sunk into the mire of the deep, where there is no foothold. I have gone down to the watery depths; the flood overwhelms me. I am weary with crying out; my throat is parched.

My eyes have failed looking for my God. More numerous than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause. Too many for my strength are my treacherous enemies. Reading: Romans 14, 10-13 For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God. So each of us shall give an account of himself to God. Then let us not no longer judge one another, but rather never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. Intercessions Lord, you are eternal Truth who came into the world to testify to the truth, enable us to bring your truth to the world. Inspire governments with a concern for justice, so all peoples can enjoy justice and peace. Place us at your right hand when you hand over your kingdom to the Father, and judge justly the living and the dead. Our Father...

Eternal Father, you looked kindly on your only Son when he was derided and condemned to death. Through his patience in suffering, heal our pride. Keep us from judging others that we may be shown mercy on judgment day. Amen.