Jesus is now before Pilot. As we contemplate this scene, let us remember that this same distortion of religion and politics continue to be played out in our world today.
Pilot is dragged away from his evening of pleasures by this mob of quarreling religious antagonists. Again the myths of religion interrupt the progress of the secular man - seeking to be unfettered by religion's claim on the truth. "Truth! What is truth?" Yes, for now these myths must be humored, but, by confining them to ghettos, they will eventually die out.
Pilot must interrogate Jesus, looking for a way to get these religious fanatics out his face. But behind all this religion and politics is a plan of destruction, on a level infinitely deeper than any of them realize.
· Pilate went out to them and asked, “What
accusation are you bringing against this man?”
· “You take Him and judge Him by your own Law,”
Pilate told them.
· Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned
Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
· Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this
world; . . .“For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to
testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
· “What is truth?” Pilate asked.
· And having said this, he went out again to the
Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him. But it is your
custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want
me to release to you the King of the Jews?” “Not this man,” they shouted, “but
Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.) John 18:28ff.
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There is a very interesting player in these events unfolding. It is Pilot's wife who sends to Pilot a mysterious and disturbing revelation.
While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife
sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have
suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.” Mtt. 27:19
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The text does not give us any details of her dream other than she knew Jesus was an innocent man. Perhaps Satan visited her with the promise of hell-fire for her and her husband, Pontius Pilot and all those who are now under the control of the great Satan, and causing this grave injustice.
Or, perhaps she had a vision of Mary's face and the body of Jesus in Mary's arms, just taken down from the cross. As a woman and mother, her soul too was pieced with a sword of grief.
Again, lets us spent time with the these passion texts, recalling St. Ignatius' approach to contemplation: employing your imagination, seeing yourself in the scene, and asking yourself, how am I being affected?
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