DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Thursday, February 21, 2019

As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.  Pilate asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “It is you say so.” Then the chief priests accused Him of many things. Pilate asked Him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. – Mark 15:1-5

I can understand the attitude of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.  By his training and the demands of keeping an unruly people in law-and-order, You would expect Pilate to be rather ruthless and pragmatic in his conduct of his authority.  But the chief priest,  the elders and the scribes … these were devout men who knew will the scriptures, clergy, preachers, teachers of the Holy Way … and yet they schemed, plotted, brought false witness, sought the justice of the political power to do injustice.  These were the supposedly holy ones yet in concert they conspired to execute Christ out of ignorance and fear.  How could such deeply devoted men … deceive themselves into thinking their treachery was for the cause of God?

In midst of the interrogation of Jesus by Pilate is a rather strange reaction on the part of the Inquisitor.  Jesus offers no defense as to the charges brought against him by the chief priests, the elders and the scribes … and Mark notes … “that Pilate was amazed.”

Why was Pilate “amazed”?  Intriguing.  Was he amazed at the stoic response of Christ?  Was he amazed that Christ by His silence proved a higher dignity than his accusers?  Was he amazed that He and Christ both knew that this was all but a political farce but still with a sense of a certain unspoken destiny?

Loved Ones, many evil and tragic things have been done in the name of God … but they ought not blind us to the nobility of the innocent doves who truly live out the spirit of the Lord.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz