Passion Sunday 2019: Jesus Crushed

The use of olive oil in ancient Israel touches every aspect of natural and supernatural life. We ourselves find this echoed in our sacramental life, with blessed oil, especially Sacred Chrism, playing such an important role in communicating God's divine life to us. Is it any surprise that the beginning of the Passion takes place on the Mount of Olives in a garden called Gethsemane, or "oil press". Jesus Himself, in order for us to receive the anointing of the Spirit which makes us sons and daughters of God, must be crushed -- so that the oil of his divine life will flow out of him and into us. Let us commemorate the crushing of Jesus, which begins here in the garden of the "oil press" -- and be grateful -- during this Holy Week.