THE THIRD DAY OF LENT

Friday, March 8th, 2019

So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”  So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed Him over to be crucified. – Matthew 27:24-26

Pontius Pilate was a powerful man yet he was a political animal.  He could have released Jesus, even providing Him protection, but succumbed to the will of the crowd.  Those in political power are not always just and those who make up the crowd are not always just.  No, a rabid crowd and a crowd-pleasing leader can so often practice injustice under the guise of the will of the people.

Pilate wanted to wash his hands of the travesty of trial.  Pilate tried to shift blame from himself unto others.  Pilate tried to justify his actions as doing the “will of the people”, but history has convicted him of injustice.

“Justice Christianus” often endures injustice so that ultimately justice can be accomplished.  Without the nobility of Christ and the hope of Christ people like Pontius Pilate, King Herod, the Temple leadership, those in the frenzied crowd would have no hope of mercy.  “Justice Christianus” is willing to sacrifice self for the sake of saving the many.

Christianity found courage and nobility in the sacrificial lambs such as Christ, Peter, James, Paul and those early martyrs for the faith.  They all were executed unjustly … in trust of a justice Divine.

Loved Ones, blessed are those stand nobly in the face of injustice to the point of being treated unjustly for they overcome the injustice of it all.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz