2004 PASSIONIST COMPANIONS PROGRAMME

    The Passion of Jesus in the Gospel of St. Mark

    THE ANOINTING AT BETHANY
    Gospel of St. Mark Chapter 14 Verses 1 - 11
     

    • Ponder a little the devotion and fidelity of this woman of Bethany
    • Contract the act of the woman with the grumbling of the others


    THE LAST MEAL WITH HIS DISCIPLES
    Gospel of St, Mark Chapter 14 Verses 12 - 25
     

    • Imagine the setting and feel the atmosphere of this last meal of Jesus
    • Ponder the interior attitude of Jesus towards God and his disciples as he shared himself with them through the bread and wine


    THE UNFAITHFULNESS OF THE DISCIPLES
    Gospel of St. Mark Chapter 14 Verses 26 - 31
     

    • Contract Judas going off to betray Jesus with the other disciples, till now, still faithful and going with him to Gethsemane
    • Consider how in spite of the infidelity of his disciples Jesus promises that he will be with them again in Galilee


    THE PRAYER IN GETHSEMANE
    Gospelo of St. Mark Chapter 14 Verses 32 - 42
     

    • Notice the three strong verbs Mark uses in verses 33 and 34 to express the interior state of Jesus as he goes to pray


    THE ARREST OF JESUS
    Gospel of St. Mark Chapter 14: 43 - 52
     

    • Reflect for a while on the stark contrast between what Judas did externally and his real intentions
    • Contrast the fidelity of Jesus to his mission from the Father and the unfaithfulness of the disciples towards Jesus


    JESUS IS HANDED OVER FOR EXECUTION
    Gospel of St. Mark Chapter 15 Verses 1 - 15
     

    • Only in this chapter throughout St. Mark's Gospel is Jesus named a 'king'. Look up the six times: Mark 15:2, 9, 12, 18, 26, 32
    • Notice how often in St. Mary's story of the passion Jesus is 'handed over'. Look up the places: Mark 14:10; 11, 18, 21, 41, 42, 44; 15:1, 10, 15


    JESUS IS MOCKED BY THE SOLDIERS
    Gospel of St. Mark Chapter 15: 16 - 20
     

    • Read this account again slowly and allow the brutality and indignity of the episode to sink into your heart
    • Reflect prayerfully on the aloneness and weakness of Jesus in his mockery by the mercenaries


    THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS
    Gospel of St. Mark Chapter 15:21 - 41
     

    • Read this account of the Crucifixion of Jesus


    THE BURIAL OF JESUS
    Gospel of St. Mark Chapter 15: 42 - 47
     

    • Consider the signs of poverty in which Jesus died
    • Place yourself with the women of Galilee and let yourself try to share their feelings as they watched the burial of Jesus by others.

    May the Passion of Jesus be always in our hearts