‘We have all crucified Jesus, we are all indebted to Him’ – Archbishop

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Homily by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna

St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta

14th April 2017

The prophecy from Isaiah which is read in today’s solemn liturgy reminds us that Jesus offers up his life for the many. He is counted among the sinners. So many people are counted among sinners; they have the same treatment Jesus had. Today we ask forgiveness for so many past judgements we throw at each other, calling each other sinners, reminding ourselves that Jesus is the first one to be counted among sinners. He gave his life for many. He gave his life for us true sinners.

A second thought I shared in Maltese and I would like to share also with you is the fact that the Gospel of John which was sung solemnly by our deacons and the choir, emphasised the fact that the title that Pilate put upon the cross of Jesus: ‘Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews’ was written in three languages: Hebrew, Latin and Greek. Hebrew the language of the people of God, the language of Israel; Latin the language of the Empire, of the occupying authority; Greek the language of culture of the Mediterranean at that time.

The cause as it used to be called, the ‘causa’, the cause of his death is in a universal language, of only the languages that everybody could understand but in a more fundamental language: that of love. Because his death is a life given to the end. He loved us, loved us unto death, he obeyed unto death unto the death of the cross (Phil 2, 8), he loved until death, unto the death on the cross. Let us adore this mystery of love and redemption and pray for each other that his wounds may bring to everyone of us the healing we truly need.

✠ Charles J. Scicluna     
     Archbishop of Malta

Photos/Feature: Curia Communications Office