Tag: barabbas or jesus

Lenten Meditations – 1 April – With Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900) Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The Sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ”
“Short Meditations for Lent”
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Tuesday after the Fourth Sunday in Lent-
Barabbas or Jesus?

Read St.Matthew xxvii:15-22

[15] Now, upon the solemn day, the governor was accustomed to release, to the people, one prisoner, whom they would selecct.
[16] And he had then a notorious prisoner who was called Barabbas. [17] They, therefore, being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you, whom I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus Who is called Christ? [18] For he knew that for envy, they had delivered Him. [19] And as he was sitting in the place of judgement, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him. [20] But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people, that they should ask for Barabbas and take Jesus away.
[21] And the governor answering, said to them: Whom of the two, will you, to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas. [22] Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified. [Matthew 27:15-22]

+1. Before Pilate sent Our Lord to Herod, he had already sought to take occasion to release Him, using the custom, of setting free at the Pasch, some notable prisoner. In order to secure success in this regard, he had proposed, as an alternative, a noted murderer named Barabbas. To his astonishment, the name of Barabbas had at once been taken up by the multitude. It was not that they loved Barabbas but, they hated
Christ.
So wretched men now choose that which they know to be evil, simply because they hate God!
They cannot bear the idea of submission. They long to get God out of the way, as the Jews desired to be rid of Christ.

+2. The multitude shouted for Barabbas because the chief priests urged them to it. It was the rulers, the ancients, who were the real murderers of Christ; the ignorant mob did but follow their leaders.
What a responsibility it is to be in a position of authority! What an account those who rule will have to give of those subject to them!

+3. When Christ returned from the palace of Herod clad in the fool’s garment, Pilate made one more attempt to have Him released. It was a fresh compromise with his conscience and, like all such compromises, only brought fresh insults on the Son of God. Again the shout rose for Barabbas to be set free and Christ to be crucified.
O Pilate! why not listen to the whisper within you and set the just man free at any risk.
My God , save me from cowardly compromises and trifling with my conscience.