THE ARREST (GOOD
FRIDAY A)
Death is an awful thing and
full of terror. . . but not to those who have learned the true
wisdom from above. He who is not conscious of eternal realities,
with reason, shudders. But he who is aware of eternal
realities rejoices and is glad because he leaves a perishable life
and goes to a better and brighter life.
Christ was going to a place known
to the traitor, lessening His enemies' labor and freeing them from
their troubles. . .to show that He was going into this willingly. He
also taught His disciples to be free from fear, so they no longer
resisted but went with Christ to the garden.
It seems Christ always stayed
outdoors at night. "Judas knew the place." They often went
there. Christ was always with His disciples, conversing on necessary
matters which others were not permitted to hear. He went to
the mountains, gardens. . .places free from disturbance so that
their attention might not be distracted from listening.
Judas came with a band of men and
officers from the chief priest and Pharisees with lanterns, torches
and weapons. They were the same people who had been trying to arrest
Him but to no avail. But, this time, He voluntarily surrendered
Himself.
The cohort went at night, as all
workers of evil do. And He met them. They did not recognize
Him. . .not because it was dark. Even Judas did not recognize Him.
No one can recognize Christ unless it pleases Him to reveal Himself.
So He repeated: "Whom do you seek? " Then He gave Himself
up to them. And, even as Peter fought back, they touched none of the
disciples. The cohort could only do what Christ allowed them to do.
Peter had been taught by Christ not
to defend himself. But there he did not defend himself but his
Master. And Peter was not yet perfect . . . a man with a sword
defending a God.
Christ reminded Peter of God's will
that He suffer. God's will is easy to accept when it is nice; it is
difficult to accept when it is unpleasant.
Then there was John who did not
mention his name. He was going to narrate an achievement of his so
he humbly omitted his name. But he was obliged to mention his
name to show that he was there and that his testimony was complete.
And, not to praise himself for being able to enter while Peter could
not, he gave the excuse, "He was known to the High
Priest."
Having been arrested, the High
Priest now questioned Christ, not to find out the truth but to trap
Him.
St. John Chrysostom: "On
the Gospel of John"
(02-02-04) |