Handed Over

One of the devotional books I've been reading this lenten season is produced by the Little Books of the Diocese of Saginaw.  The title for their lenten book is "The Little Black Book."  (click on the title and it will take you to their web site.)  The little book follows Mark's account of the Passion of Jesus for its scripture text and meditation.  Here is a portion of today's devotional:

Mark 15.15 - So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to the crucified. 

Mark says that Jesus is "handed over to be crucified." This is part of a chain of "handing-overs", one after another, into unfriendly hands. It began when Judas handed him over to the chief priests . . . who handed him over to Pilate . . . who handed him over to the executioners. In the end, Jesus will hand himself over to the Father in death. At last, he will be received into friendly hands.


Those same friendly hands await me, not only at death, but at every Mass (Eucharist).  I can place myself on the altar and join with Christ as he gives himself into the Father's hands.