Paradoxes

In truth, in the events of this week, we find strange paradoxes between the behavior of the Creator and the behavior of the creature. Indeed, we see the same paradoxes within humanity itself…

We see humanity in its weakness, its betrayal, its fall, and its descent downward to a level we never thought it would descend to…

And in contrast to this, we see Christ in His love, His self-giving, His endurance, and in His dignity and steadfastness like a great, firmly established mountain. We see the Apostle Peter denying Christ three times, cursing, swearing, and falsely taking an oath that he does not know the man. And we see the high priest lying and committing injustice, and bringing false witnesses… Three of the great disciples are unable to watch with Christ for one hour and leave Him in the depth of His sufferings… And nine of the disciples flee when He is arrested, and one delivers Him to His enemies with a kiss!!

In this week we see the harsh, treacherous humanity that scourges Christ, strikes Him, mocks Him, betrays Him, and forgets His benefactions. And we see the weak and cowardly governor who sentences Him to death contrary to his conscience…

The Lord saw all the corruption of humanity before Him, so He showed compassion and treated it. Therefore, in order to treat their doubts concerning His divinity at the time of the crucifixion, He raised Lazarus a week before that, performed the miracle of the fig tree, made the sun darken from the sixth hour to the ninth, the earth quake, the tombs open, and the veil of the temple be torn. And in order to establish a balance with His death, He brought forth blood and water from His side.

As for His disciples, He fortified them with many things…

He explained to them everything that would happen before it occurred, proclaimed to them His resurrection before His crucifixion, granted them His Body and Blood, washed their feet, and prayed for them that their faith might not fail. He spoke to them a long discourse (John 13–16). And He raised a long prayer for them (John 17)… Then He appeared to them after the resurrection to strengthen their faith. He prepared them for the trial before it occurred, and comforted them in it by saying:

“I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” “If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I go to My Father.” “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Their fall did not anger Him, but He had compassion on their weaknesses. And when they slept in the garden, He excused them, saying:
“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And at the time when the disciples were afraid and fled, He Himself went to the garden of Gethsemane. And He said to the soldiers with courage, “I am He.” And from His power, they fell to the ground…

Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine – Year Eight (Issue Fourteen) – 8-4-1977

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