The Gospel for THURSDAY, June 30, 2005
Luke 23:13-25
Pilate then summoned the chief priests and the leading men and the people. He said to them, ‘You brought this man before me as a popular agitator. Now I have gone into the matter myself in your presence and found no grounds in the man for any of the charges you bring against him. Nor has Herod either, since he has sent him back to us. As you can see, the man has done nothing that deserves death, so I shall have him flogged and then let him go.’ But as one man they howled, ‘Away with him! Give us Barabbas!’ (This man had been thrown into prison because of a riot in the city and murder.) In his desire to set Jesus free, Pilate addressed them again, but they shouted back, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ And for the third time he spoke to them, ‘But what harm has this man done? I have found no case against him that deserves death, so I shall have him flogged and then let him go.’ But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices, demanding that he should be crucified. And their shouts kept growing louder. Pilate then gave his verdict: their demand was to be granted. He released the man they asked for, who had been imprisoned because of rioting and murder, and handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they pleased. -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
A Version of the Story
Giving Pilate credit for attempting to be just is probably a stretch of the facts. Pilate is reported to have had no interest in justice or equity, but only in ensuring his own tenure, success, and potential promotion.
A Reflection
Some students attempt to use this account as evidence that "not standing by your beliefs" will cause bad things to happen.
I don't think anybody has any reason to believe that this account is as "factual" as anyone else's account.
What this account does is to place blame onto the crowd, when the blame apparently belongs to those in power whose positions were threatened by Jesus' truth.
I told my sons when they were small that giving in to a bully is the surest way to ensure that he will return for more bullying. If you're going to get beat up, why not kick him in the shins first, so he'll find someone else less painful to encounter, the next time?
That was bad advice, though with some practical merit.
Jesus' approach to the situation, to speak truth to power, was the correct and best practice. He neither stooped to their level nor was cowed by their force. Nothing in Torah or the Roman code could justify their actions, while Jesus was, both figuratively and literally, "on the side of the angels."
A Collect
Almighty God, your Son faced injustice with courage and sure knowledge of your truth; give us your grace to follow his example. Amen
11:40:48 AM 
|
|
