“ET TU, BRUTE!”

These were the famous last words uttered by the Roman dictator Julius Caesar to his close friend, Marcus Brutus. These words were spoken by Caesar after Brutus had stabbed him, at least according to Shakespeare’s play. This phrase: ‘Et Tu, Brute’ has become part of Literature, in any language, to express disappointment against any act committed by a very close and trusted friend.

It is nowhere recorded that Christ has ever spoken these words, not even to Judas in his betrayal in the Garden if Gethsemane … but we know that He did feel the pain of betrayal. And worse still, Christ being divine, knew how, where and by whom He was to be sold, at the price of a slave. Mentally, He suffered the Passion much longer before He was given the Cross.

In my younger years I was always impressed by a painting by a German artist, showing Christ sitting down under an olive tree, and weeping. He was portrayed sitting high up in the Garden of Gethsemane, overlooking His beloved Jerusalem. I always asked why. Today, experience and study of the Scripture has enlightened me. The worst thing that can happen to you is, to be betrayed … by a close friend.

In that cold night, sitting under the olive tree, Christ could see His triumphal entry into Jerusalem; the waving of the leaves of palm trees, lifting up of olive branches, cloaks thrown on the ground to serve as carpets, for the donkey. He could hear the shouting of voices from one and all, screaming “Hosanna in the highest” or “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”.

But these welcoming greetings were mixed with other shouts of madness, with screams of hatred, calling out: “Crucify Him, crucify Him.” “We have no king but Caesar. Take Him away, crucify Him.”  Would any one wonder why Christ did weep on that cold evening under the olive tree, overlooking His beloved Jerusalem? I used to wonder, one day. I don’t anymore.

If the people who greeted Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem were replaced by a different group of people, say, by a throng of madmen, just escaped from a lunatic asylum, things would have seemed different. But the fact that this was the one and the same crowd, who has changed the frequency, the mood, who followed the advice of their Jewish leaders, who changed the palm tree leaves were into daggers, truncheons and swords … no wonder Christ cried over Jerusalem.

No wonder Christ recalled how often He had gathered Jerusalem’s children around Him, just like a hen does with her chicks, and sheltering them with her wings. Is it small wonder that Christ did weep. Imagine, you mothers, after having spent the prime years of your life in pain, in work and trouble trying to bring up your family, at a great sacrifice, you will end up being forgotten by all your children … even if forgotten by one is enough to bring tears to your eyes. And I am saying forgotten not betrayed and murdered.

Many sick people were healed by Christ; the blind given sight; the deaf given back hearing; those sick of palsy returned to normality; the dead returned to life; the lepers were cured and cleansed; they were fed once and twice … the list is infinite, according to St. John. And that is the kind of ‘Thank You’ Christ received. No wonder Christ wept … and He is still weeping. I know God does not weep, but humanly speaking, the offence is always an occasion to cause pain and tears.

I pray to God He will not utter Caesar’s accusation on Judgement Day and tell me “Et Tu, Antoni?” Do think about it? But do replace the Antoni with your name, to feel more the guilt and gravity of the offence.  We cannot stab Christ in the back, like Brutus did, but we can still stab, offend, disregard, ignore, accuse, close an ear to the shouting of pain, close an eye to the sufferings of our brothers. They do not need be Christians, Christ is in the person of every human being. Let’s be true, genuine Christians … for others.