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Yesterday’s Palm Sunday Liturgy with the reading of the Passion is a bit of a marathon requiring stamina of body, mind and soul.

There are dozens of players in the account of the Passion of Jesus.

There are goodies and baddies, rich and poor, close friends and curious bystanders, as well as others who who would have been wondering what all the commotion was about over that long weekend long ago.

And to provide even more action and complexity to the drama some of the goodies (disciples) become the baddies (denier and betrayer), some bystanders become star performers (Simon who helps to carry Jesus’ cross and Veronica who quenches Jesus’ thirst), and some previously unheard of acquaintances have the last word (Joseph of Arimathea provides a tomb).

Which of these am I?

Which of these characters in the Passion of Jesus best represents me today?

I might be like Martha, Mary and Lazarus who remained inconspicuous enough to not feature in the account.

I would like to think that at least I could be like the respectable Joseph of Arimathea turning up when the danger was past to at least carry out the corporal work of mercy by giving Jesus dignified burial.

Perhaps I’m like Peter with his fickle love, whole-hearted and passionate in one moment, then claiming boldly in my words and actions “I do not know him.”

And then there are times when I fear my betrayals link me more closely than I would like with Judas.

As you ponder today what do you recall of the Passion of Jesus?

Is there a player, a moment, an encounter in the account that speaks to you about your own life and the invitation Jesus might be offering you to experience his closeness to you?

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