Gospel: Luke 23:1-49
The elders of the
people, chief priests and scribes, arose and brought Jesus before Pilate. They
brought charges against him, saying, “We found this man misleading our people; he
opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a
king.” Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in
reply, “You say so.” Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, “I
find this man not guilty.” But they were adamant and said, “He is inciting the
people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even
to here.”
On hearing this
Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under
Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod
was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for
he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He
questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and
scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. Herod and his soldiers
treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in
resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends
that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned
the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, “You brought
this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have
conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of
the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back
to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have
him flogged and then release him.”
But all together
they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” — Now Barabbas
had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for
murder. — Again Pilate
addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their
shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them a third time, What
evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I
shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they
persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The
verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the
man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and
he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.
As they led him away
they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the
country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind
Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned
and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do
not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children for indeed,
the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs
that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time people will
say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if
these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” Now
two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.
When they came to
the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on
his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they
know not what they do.” They divided his garments by casting lots. The people
stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved
others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even
the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called
out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an
inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
Now one of the
criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save
yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no
fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have
been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but
this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will
be with me in Paradise.”
It was now about
noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because
of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”;
and when he had said this he breathed his last. Here all kneel and pause for a
short time. The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and
said, “This man was innocent beyond doubt.” When all the people who had
gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating
their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the
women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Denials and
betrayals perhaps these two words best describe the fate which sealed the
crucifixion of Jesus. He would have not been crucified if he was not denied and
betrayed by the very people who followed Him, people who benefited from His
miracles and people who were praising Him to high heavens as he entered
Jerusalem astride on a donkey.
Why was He betrayed?
Jesus was betrayed because there were no more miracles coming from Him. There
were no more displayed of powerful healings and eloquence of speech. What they
saw was a defeated and powerless man, a man who couldn’t defend Himself. So
unlike of the powerful image of Jesus before He entered Jerusalem, thus they
left Jesus to fend for himself!
Such is our human behavior,
we side with the powerful and when the powerful is not anymore powerful we hastily
abandon ship. To cling to the new power, this is what happened to Jesus, He was
abandoned by the very people who were supposed to defend Him.
Perhaps in His
humanity Jesus was expecting to be defended by those who benefited from Him.
But His expectation did not become a reality. In His humanity Jesus saw for
Himself the pain of betrayal and defeat.
This is the reality
of life during the time of Jesus and this is still the reality of life today
during this very hour. We love to side with the powerful and those who are not
anymore powerful we discard like a hot potato.
If we continue to
side with the powerful we will not find Jesus because Jesus is not with them. Jesus
is with the powerless, those who are being oppressed and those who have nothing
in life except the tattered clothes that they are wearing.
As you begin your
journey this Holy Week get deeper into the character of the powerless and have
an up-close and personal encounter with them. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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