In these days of Lent and Holy Week, we will accompany Jesus on his way to Jerusalem, and to the cross. Jesus brings about our redemption by doing the will of his Father to the very end — through suffering, through submission and, finally, in silence.

When we say that Jesus suffered for our sins, what do we mean? To be sure, we know it means that Jesus suffered physically. Jesus was bruised and beaten. A crown of thorns was thrust on his head. He carried a heavy cross, which caused him to fall three times along the way to Golgatha. Isaiah writes of the suffering servant: “So marred was his look beyond that of man and his appearance beyond that of mortals.” (Is. 52:14) Jesus suffered physically so much, we can imagine it would have been difficult to recognize him. It must have been horrible for Mary, especially, to see Jesus’ body — formed in her womb — beaten and bruised.

But, more than anything, Jesus suffered spiritually. He was betrayed by Judas and Peter. He was mocked and ridiculed and rejected by his enemies. He was abandoned by almost everyone. Only Jesus’ Mother, John the Apostle, and the other two Marys remained at the foot of the cross.

Like the suffering servant of the book of Isaiah, (53:4) Jesus “bore our infirmities.” He who is totally sinless, took upon himself the sins of all people of all time — took upon himself your sins and mine. Although Jesus was completely repulsed by sin, as St. Paul says, “for our sake (God) made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21) It is difficult even to imagine the terrible spiritual suffering of Jesus. But he does not suffer just for the sake of suffering. No, Jesus suffers for our redemption and to give glory to the Father on our behalf.

Above all, Jesus submitted himself totally to the will of the Father — for himself and also in our stead. As the author of the book of Hebrews writes: “In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death....” (Heb. 5:7) What could be a better description of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene?

In St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus prays to his Father in the garden saying: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Lk. 22:42) Jesus allowed the Father’s will to be done in him. “Son though he was, (Jesus) learned obedience from what he suffered.” (Heb. 5:8) Even though he was the Son of God and had the power to stop his crucifixion, Jesus submitted to his Father’s will to the very end — for us.

Lastly, we contemplate Jesus as he struggles painfully but silently on his way to Golgotha. In the Gospel readings that we contemplate on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, we will note that Jesus says very little. He simply responds to the questions that are addressed to him. At a certain point, Jesus even declines to answer one of Pilate’s questions. By withdrawing into silence, it is as if Jesus is telling us something further about the mystery of his passion. The passion and death of Jesus is so awesome, so mysterious, that words cannot adequately capture its significance.

Often, that is the way it is between two people who love each other very much. The deepest mysteries of their relationship can only be revealed in silence because words fail to express the profound meaning of their love. Likewise, Jesus withdraws into silence, into the silence of the mystery of the love he shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit — and with us. And in this silence Jesus reveals himself to us.

During the final days of Lent and into Holy Week, as we ponder Jesus’ suffering, submission and silence, as we enter into the awesome mystery of Christ’s passion, let us confidently draw close to Jesus. “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” (Heb. 4:15-16)

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