The Passion: Triumph through Grace

From a Seminar by Rev. Fr. Stépanos Dingilian, Ph.D. at the
St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church, Glendale, California
February 26, 2004
Rev. Fr. Stépanos Dingilian, Ph.D. © 2004

         Why is the Passion of Christ so important for Christians and even for all of humanity? The Passion of Christ demonstrates triumphing through grace and love.

Let us read this passage:

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, 
my chosen one in whom I delight; 
I will put my Spirit on him 
and he will bring justice to the nations. 
He will not shout or cry out, 
or raise his voice in the streets. 
A bruised reed he will not break, 
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. 
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 
he will not falter or be discouraged 
till he establishes justice on earth. 
In his law the islands will put their hope."
                        Isaiah 42:1-4

             Imagine bringing about victory over nations with powerfully armed armies through grace, without killing or destroying, or even “bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” Yes, there may have been others before Christ who did not seek violent means of expressing themselves, but, they did not speak of bringing “forth justice.” For this reason, St. John tells us:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ... For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
                                                St. John 1:14, 17

            This “justice” is not only in the olden days, but it is also today, and in all aspects of life. For most of us, it is most apparent in our personal, family, and work relationships. If the Scriptures state, “In his law the islands will put their hope,” couldn’t we also place our hope in this Savior? Of course we can. But how? How can this understanding of The Passion of Christ help us overcome the stresses and obstacles to joy in life?

            “We preach Christ crucified.” (1^st Corinthians 1:23) tells us St. Paul. But why would St. Paul choose such a paradox, a difficult to understand statement as “Christ crucified”? Because in this very statement is contained both the triumph of Christian Faith as well as its path towards attaining that calling. First, Jesus came as “the Christ,” the victor, the savior and liberator who was to overcome all the obstacles that stand in the way of humanity, and especially persons, families, and communities enjoying the blessings of God such as peace, love, joy, and creativity. Yet, this conqueror chose a path of demonstrating to people how this objective and purpose can be reached in a manner that was not witnessed nor even imagined by humanity:

“The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.”
                                            St. John 3:31.

            So whereas all of humanity, as represented by those who caused him so much suffering, those who took part in his Passion willingly and those who too part unwillingly, knowingly and unknowingly, tried to prove that Christ’s way of attaining an objective in life cannot be accomplished. Yet, Christ never deviated from the calling that his Father had given him:

“For the very work that the Father has given me to finish,

and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.”

                                                St. John 5:36

             Christ fulfilled his calling by bringing victory, showing faith in God even unto death, and accomplished it by not even breaking a bruised reed when he did not waiver for a moment during The Passion.

So what is “the passion” that we are experiencing in life? What is the calling that God has given us as individual persons, couples, families, communities, and even as a nation? How are we trying to fulfill our calling, walk the path of our "passion"? 

If we can remain as steadfast as Christ during the Passion, remain forgiving, loving, and graceful as Christ on the Cross, ...
            ... be able to redirect and control our anger and zeal as Christ in his moment of betrayal and loneliness, 
            ... become as trustworthy and responsible as Christ in focusing upon our calling, 
            Then we too will enjoy in our relationships the love and respect of those around us, ...
            ... we too will have a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment through grace, 
            ... we too will have an endless enthusiasm and energy to bring about that which is good and life giving, 
            ... we too will be able to sense the fullness of joy as Christ promised: 

“Joy I give unto you as the world cannot give. … and your joy will be complete.”

Home