+ “O, woe is me …” This famous saying is thought, by many, to have originated in Shakespeare.
But not so! It was used once in “Hamlet,” but that is all.
Actually, Shakespeare knew the phrase from the Bible in the Book of Job, then in Isaiah and Jeremiah; and in other books of the Bible as is or in similar words.
As children, many even remember it in cartoons, as these characters expressed their grief and their pain almost mockingly, with the phrase: “O, woe is me!”
But it certainly seems to powerfully express the pain, grief, rejection, and suffering of the Suffering Servant Oracles.
Today’s fourth and last poem even speaks about being “pierced for our offenses.”
And in later years in Christian circles, all so easily applied these words to the experience of Jesus the Christ on his cross.
And yet, the same Christ uttered the words of the psalm from that dreadful Cross: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
+ As the passion of Christ, in the inspired words of St. John the Evangelist proclaimed this day, we enter fully into such woe — that it is barely possible to imagine.
But the unique thing about this passion according to John, Jesus, though arrested, clearly is in control.
Jesus hands himself over to be crucified as he himself proclaims “my hour has come.”
Not only that, but the famous moment when the soldiers come to arrest him, having been tipped off by Judas the betrayer, Jesus asked the soldiers: “Whom are you looking for?”
To which the soldiers responded, “Jesus the Nazorean.”
And when Jesus responded, he simply said: “I AM,” echoing those famous words first heard on Mt. Horeb when God spoke those words to Moses — the identifying words (not really God’s name) by which he (God) would be known.
Jesus spoke the words, and “They turned away and fell to the ground.”
In fear? Recognizing? Dumbfounded? Not fully understanding?
Intuitively knowing maybe the divine was present there?
Curious, at the very least! But for sure, Jesus was in command as it was stated only a few verses earlier, “Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him.”
+ In some way, this shows Jesus as giving himself on that cross and to us freely, with total trust in God the Father, in a complete sacrifice of love, and showing us THE WAY, even through suffering, to face the power of sin and hate, and sacrificially transforming through the power of love and forgiveness and faith.
This is the story of his Passion! This is our story of faith through that passion, death, and resurrection — a giving of new and eternal life to us!
And the “O, woe is me!” is turned into “O, praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ; thank you for the gift of your love and self-giving to us forever and ever and ever!”
Amen!
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
