While on a rosary walk the other day,
we were reflecting on the mysteries and as he read the second sorrowful
mystery, something really hit me hard.
Second
Sorrowful Mystery
Pilate said unto them: “What shall I
do then with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all say unto him: “Let him be
crucified!” And the governor said: “Why, what evil hath he done”? But they
cried out the more, saying: “Let him be crucified!” (Mathew 27) So Pilate,
wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus
Scourged, handed him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:15)
I remember growing up and even to
this day being discussed at this story. This
crowd had no reason to hate Jesus and still yelled crucify him, crucify him; trying to condemn him to a miserable and torturous
death. And Pilate, finding no fault of
his own, decided to go along with the crowd to satisfy them by handing Jesus to
be crucified to prevent the crowd from turning on him. I always got so angry
thinking that it was so easy for them to turn their backs on Jesus, the savior
of the world, and wish unthinkable pain upon him. What hit me hard during that rosary was the
fact that every day I am the crowd, and I am also Pilate.
While I might not physically yell
out crucify him, every time I sin
that is exactly what I am saying. Every
time I know God’s will and yet decide to break his rules and do my own thing, I
am saying crucify him, crucify him. Jesus died for my sins, for your sins. That
means that every time we sin, we are the one driving the nail deeper into his
hands; that little sin we don’t think is a big deal is an extra lash from the
whip tearing into his skin.
Pilate on the other hand, didn’t
want to harm Jesus because he knew he was innocent and Pilate didn’t want to do
anything wrong; but he was more worried about what the crowd would think of him
than doing the right thing. By standing
by and watching other people sin and not saying anything, I am being Pilate. I am going along with what I know is wrong
and ignoring Jesus’ silent plea to help him. By lack the courage to stand up
for my beliefs and continuing to watch others sin, I am allowing Jesus to be crucified.
This is a sobering fact, when you
think of all the things you do throughout your day that are just adding extra
pain and suffering to Jesus’ crucifixion.
Take a minute to think about where your life needs to change so that you
are no longer silently yelling crucify him,
crucify him. Even those little sins
are an extra blow of the hammer, are they worth it?
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