The Fateful Decision

Gospel: John 18: 1-19: 42

Today we are faced with choosing between Jesus and Barabbas through the figure of Pontius Pilate.  In this scene Pilate is between the religious authorities seeking the death of Jesus and Jesus himself.  He crosses the Praetorium time and again to talk with each of them before arriving at his decision.  Both the choice he makes and the reasons he has for his choice are chilling reminders of the way of the world that are at odds with the person and witness of Jesus.

Pilate in this scene is calculating.  He backs the religious leaders into a corner, getting them to swear allegiance to Caesar.  When they have done so, then and only then does he hand Jesus over to them for crucifixion.  Jesus is a mere pawn in a contest of power.  The religious leaders only come to realize this when it is too late, when they see the placard placed on the cross of Jesus.  You have sworn allegiance to Caesar: this is what happens if you choose Jesus or anyone else as your king. 

How often is Jesus a mere pawn in contests of power, one that religious leaders are all too willing to bargain away!  How many people are pawns in such games - immigrants, refugees, migrants, the poor, exploited women and children!  Choosing Caesar means choosing death for so many, and ultimately for oneself.  Choosing the Lord Jesus means temporary suffering and death, but ultimate resurrection and life eternal.  Today is election day.  Choose wisely.  

Ritual vs. Real

Gospel: John 13: 1-15

The four Gospels provide us with two important actions that take place this night of Holy Thursday.  The first is the celebration of the Passover meal and Jesus offering bread and wine as his body and blood, urging the disciples to do this in remembrance of him.  The second is Jesus stooping down to wash the feet of the disciples, an action not even a slave would perform.  In performing this action, Jesus tells the disciples that as he has done so also we must do.

Whereupon Christians turned both events into ritual actions performed in sanitary, antiseptic conditions.  Rather than actually becoming an offering of our life for the sake of others, in nourishing people at table, we instead made what Jesus did a mere vicarious ritual.  We did the same to the action of the washing of feet, here only doing this ritual once a year.  It is much easier to do this than actually wash the feet of other people, to care for others in the most base needs people have.  

So, as we gather to reenact these rituals yet again may we be reminded that the rituals are not the real, that what Jesus asks of us is to live and die as he did, to become a humble servant of others as he did.  May these rituals actually spur us to such action.  May they not be empty shows and displays devoid of any real substance.  May we truly become the body and blood of Christ on earth, taking up a towel and basin to serve a starving world in need of mercy and love. 

A Mirrored Window

Gospel: Matthew 26: 14-25

One of you will betray me.  Surely it is not I, Lord, they all say.  I will lay down my life for you, Lord.  Leader of the band, this very night you will deny me three times.  The rest of you will abandon me.  Christianity loves to be about creeds, professions of faith, testimonials, and "witnessing."  All of it is performative egoism much like these statements of the disciples at the Last Supper.  It is all talk and bluster with little substance and weight.  

The Holy Week readings are designed to be like looking into a mirrored window.  We see the scene itself, but we also see ourselves in that very scene.  Every disciples in that room failed.  They all gave their testimonials and then went out to do something very different than what they claimed to be.  So it is with us disciples of today.  We claim to follow the Lord, yet deny him in the person of our neighbor each day - cheering on warfare, maligning the poor, abusing the immigrant, migrant, and refugee.  

The drama of Holy Week is one we are to take in with utter silence, for the drama is an indictment on ourselves as disciples as much as it is for the original group of followers.  The readings and rituals are designed to instill deep humility and introspection within us so that when we lie prostrate or kneel at the beginning of the Good Friday service we are truly humbled and chastened.  Yet, we are invited to rise again with the Lord and keep trying to imitate him on the Way to the reign of God.