The Second Prediction of the Passion

Today's Reflections

                                                                                             

The Second Prediction of the Passion

Lk 9:43b-45

⁴³While [the crowd and the disciples] were all amazed at his every deed, [Jesus] said to his disciples, ⁴⁴“Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” ⁴⁵But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Pay attention. Jesus predicts his passion a second time. Just like a no-nonsense schoolmaster, Jesus sternly tells his disciples, “Listen very carefully to what I’m going to say…” Presumably, the disciples have not been paying attention to Jesus’ pronouncement that he has to suffer and die in Jerusalem. Or the disciples may just have chosen to ignore Jesus’ unusual teaching.

Notice that this second prediction, in Luke, is preceded by Jesus’ transfiguration—a celestial proof of his divine power (cf Lk 9:28-36). The passage itself is introduced by the comment that the people and the disciples are amazed at Jesus’ great deeds. The disciples must think that Jesus’ prediction may be too good to be true after what they have seen at his transfiguration. They have heard Jesus all right, but they are afraid to ask questions to clear things out because they cannot seem to connect the dots.

We need to listen to what the Lord is saying. Oftentimes, we preempt the Lord and put God in a box. We do not want to hear the painful truth—that the Lord will have to suffer and die to redeem us of our sins. In the process, we will also suffer and experience death.

In an old Roman tradition, while a victorious general is basking in the glory and praise of the people, a servant whispers to his ears: “Respice post te! Hominem te esse memento! Memento mori!” (“Look behind you! Remember that you are but a man! Remember that you will die!”)

Let us pay attention. Let us keep quiet. Let us unplug our earphones and turn off our tablets. Suffering and death come upon us every day. Let us stop wasting our life on stupid and worldly things. Let us live our life to the full by being attuned to the Father’s will.

Life is short, death is sure.

The hour of death remains obscure.