Monday – Fifth Week of Lent
The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Messiah?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the loud, “Let him be crucified!” Mt. 27:20-23
We have here another echo of the Infancy Narrative. There the angel told Joseph to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt because “Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Now the religious leaders persuade the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to destroy Jesus.
Matthew dramatized the choice Jesus and Barabbas both stand before the crowd and Pilate asks a clear and direct question: “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
As the chosen people were about to enter the promised land, Moses, who was about to die, gave a long farewell address. He ended by placing before the people a stark choice: “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life . . . by loving the Lord your God.”
The people in the crowd in today’s passage face the same choice. Pilate sets Jesus and Barabbas before them and asks: “Which of the two do you want?” They chose Barabbas.
Each day there are situations large and small when this same choice is placed before me: Shall I do what is life – giving or death – dealing? Shall I build up or tear down?
Spend some quiet time with the Lord.
March 27, 2007
Pope Benedict XVI, Ash Wednesday, 2007
May Lent be for every Christian a renewed experience of God’s love given to us in Christ, a love that each day we, in turn, must “regive” to our neighbour, especially to the one who suffers most and is in need.
Only in this way will we be able to participate fully in the joy of Easter. May Mary, Mother of Beautiful Love, guide us in this Lenten journey, a journey of authentic conversion to the love of Christ. I wish you, dear brothers and sisters, a fruitful Lenten journey, imparting with affection to all of you, a special Apostolic Blessing.
