Day 4: The Paschal Mystery: Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus
Main Theme: “Do you believe this?” – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – As we continue through the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we come to a central theme of our faith—the Paschal Mystery: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This profound mystery is the heart of the Gospel, and it raises a crucial question: “Do you believe this?” Do you believe that in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God has worked to bring us salvation, healing, and new life?
The Paschal Mystery isn’t just a historical event; it’s the dynamic force that reshapes our lives, our communities, and our world. Let us delve into the scriptures for today to explore the depths of this mystery and how it invites us to live with hope and faith.
1. God Sees Our Suffering and Comes to Rescue (Exodus 3:7-8)
The Paschal Mystery begins in the heart of God’s concern for His people. In Exodus 3:7-8, God reveals Himself to Moses as one who has seen the misery of His people in Egypt, and He is determined to act. “I have heard them crying out… and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them…” This declaration is not just an isolated moment in history, but a foretaste of God’s ultimate act of rescue through Jesus Christ.
In Jesus, God does not remain distant from our suffering. Just as God heard the cries of the Israelites in Egypt, He hears our cries today. The Paschal Mystery reveals that God enters into our deepest suffering, our sin, and our death, and He responds with love, offering His own Son as the ultimate rescue.
Application: Do you believe that God sees your struggles and is concerned for your suffering? The Paschal Mystery assures us that God’s love is not abstract or distant but deeply involved in the suffering of the world. In the Passion of Jesus, God enters into our pain to heal and redeem us. This should fill us with hope, knowing that God is actively present with us in our pain, always working to bring us to a place of freedom and new life.
2. The Promise of Resurrection (Psalm 16:5, 7, 10, 11)
Psalm 16 is a beautiful expression of trust in God’s faithfulness. The psalmist declares, “You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay” (Psalm 16:10). This promise of not being abandoned in death is fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ victory over death was not just for Himself but for all of us. Because He lives, we too can experience the hope of resurrection, the promise that death does not have the final word.
Through His death on the cross, Jesus took on the full weight of human suffering, sin, and death. But in His resurrection, He triumphed over all of it. Psalm 16 points to the promise that God’s people will be delivered from death. Jesus’ resurrection is the fulfillment of that promise—an assurance that death is not the end, but a passage to eternal life.
Application: Do you believe that Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of our own resurrection? In a world where death often seems to have the final say, the Paschal Mystery teaches us that death is not the end. Jesus has conquered death, and His resurrection opens the way for us to share in His eternal life. When we face the challenges and fears that life brings, we can hold fast to the hope of resurrection, knowing that God’s promise is sure and certain.
3. Humility and Exaltation: The Example of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11)
In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul encourages the believers to adopt the mindset of Christ, who, though He was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. This passage underscores the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice and the incredible humility He displayed.
The Paschal Mystery is the ultimate revelation of God’s love—Jesus willingly entered into the depths of human suffering, humiliation, and death to bring about our salvation. His death on the cross was not a defeat, but the very means by which He would accomplish God’s plan of redemption. And because of His obedience, humility, and sacrifice, God exalted Him, giving Him the name above every name, so that at His name every knee will bow.
Application: Do you believe that Jesus’ humility and sacrifice have the power to change your life? The Paschal Mystery calls us to live with humility, to embrace the way of the cross in our own lives. It challenges us to follow Christ’s example—living selflessly, loving others, and serving even when it costs us. The exaltation of Christ reminds us that through suffering and sacrifice, God brings about the greatest good. In our own lives, too, when we follow the way of Christ, we can trust that God will work through our humility and service to bring about His glory.
4. The Paschal Mystery: A Call to Believe
At the heart of the Paschal Mystery is the invitation to believe. The question Jesus asks Martha in John 11:25-26 is the same question He asks each of us: “Do you believe this?” Do you believe that in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus, God has brought salvation, hope, and new life to the world? Do you believe that the power of the resurrection is at work in your life, even in the midst of your struggles?
The Paschal Mystery is not just something to remember once a year during Holy Week; it is the ongoing story of God’s love and power at work in our lives. The death and resurrection of Jesus are the foundation of our faith, but they are also the means by which we are continually transformed. As we face challenges, suffering, and even death itself, we are invited to place our trust in the risen Christ, who has conquered all of it.
Application: Do you believe that the power of the resurrection is real and present in your life today? The Paschal Mystery is a reminder that no matter what we face, we do not do it alone. Jesus has already walked through the deepest valley of suffering and death and has emerged victorious. We are called to trust in His power, to live in the light of His resurrection, and to share that hope with the world around us.
Prayer:
Lord our God,We praise You for the profound mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His suffering and sacrifice, You have shown us the depth of Your love, and in His resurrection, You have given us the hope of eternal life.
Awaken our hearts to the power of this mystery. May we never forget that because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we are free from the power of sin and death. Help us to live in the light of the resurrection, to love and serve others as Christ has loved us, and to trust in Your promises even in our times of suffering.
Fill us with the hope of the resurrection, and help us to boldly proclaim that Jesus is Lord. To You be all glory, now and forever.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
As we reflect on the Paschal Mystery, may we be reminded that Christ’s victory over sin and death is not just a past event—it is a present reality that continues to shape our lives. Do you believe this? If so, let it transform you, today and always.