Unit 4 – Living the Paschal Mystery Lesson 2 – The Passion Narratives

The Passion – The sufferings of Jesus during the final days in this life: his agony in the garden at Gethsemane, his trial, and his Crucifixion The Events Leading to Jesus’ Death: Jesus Enters Jerusalem The Last Supper The Garden at Gethsemane The Trial Before the Sanhedrin The Trial Before Pilate The Scourging The Crucifixion Jesus’ Death The Events of the Passion

All four of the Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ suffering and death: these stories are called the passion narratives Compared with the rest of the Gospels, the Passion narratives are remarkably detailed, giving us a great deal of information about the events that occurred during Jesus’ final days and hours. To give us a sense of the sequence of these events, we are going to read one of the Passion narratives together in class today. The Passion Narratives

I will walk around with an envelope containing the following roles for the Passion Narrative According to Luke. Some people will share the role with another. Narrator (2) Jesus (2) Apostles Crowd/People Criminal 1 Criminal 2 Speaker 1 Speaker 2 Speaker 3 Council Member 1 Council Member 2 Council Member 3 Centurion Peter Servant Girl Pilate Assigning the roles

What is one aspect of the story that stood out to you? For example, it could be a character, an event, or a surprising detail. What is one question you have about this story? This could be a very simple question, like “What is Passover?” or a more analytical question, like “Why does Peter deny that he knows Jesus?” What is one aspect of this story that you like? What is one aspect of this story that bothers or disturbs you? - Sandy Patty – “Via Dolorosa” In-Class Activity: Choose one of the characters (Like Pontius Pilate for example) and write a sentences in the first person about their experience. Write as if you were witnessing these events taking place and you are sharing your thoughts/feelings in a journal-type situation. Post to OneNote with the title “Passion Narrative Reflection” when you are finished "Carry My Cross" - Third Day Luke 22 and 23 - Reflection

The Passion narratives lie at the very heart of the Christian faith, because the events they recount are the high point, or fulfillment, of Jesus’ saving work on earth. Even though every event in Jesus’ life was part of God’s plan to save humanity, it was Jesus’ suffering and death that fully accomplished this. Jesus willingly surrendered to God’s will for his life, choosing to remain faithful to his mission of love and service even when he knew he would be rejected. It was this willingness to endure physical torment and emotional abandonment that has set us free from sin and death! The Heart of our Faith

Remember Jesus’ choice to be faithful to God’s will out of love for all people? This is an example of redemptive love – self-sacrificial love that is truly directed towards the good of others. In John’s Gospel when Jesus says, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (15:1) He is describing redemptive love in words. We see redemptive love in action in Jesus’ own suffering and death. Jesus Redeems Us through His Love