Scripture for
meditation: John 18:39-40
But you have a custom that I release someone for you at
the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” So
they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a
robber.
Scripture for
reflection: 1 Kings 18:25-30, 32-34, 36-39
So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal,
“Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call
on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” Then they took the
ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal
from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was no voice and
no one answered. Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all
the people came near to him. So with the stones he built an altar in the name
of the LORD, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures
of seed. Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet
came near and said, “O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it
be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done
all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people
may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart
back again.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and
the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the
trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The
LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.”
Thomas Leiker
tells us: Caiaphas, Pilate, and Barabbas…represented different faith
personalities in the parable of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and subsequent death.
Caiaphas chose what was more important to him: his position and wealth over
spiritual honesty. An image of him might be: as everyone else runs away from a
disaster, he is still there, trying to gather his belongings to take with him. Pilate
knew what the right choice was but allowed himself to be intimidated into
choosing the option which went against what he believed….Barabbas, more than
the others was representative of humankind today. He was the evil man who was
craved by the people more than the goodness of Christ. With bribery or
intimidation the crowd was led to choose evil over good. Many were the same
people who greeted Jesus on Palm Sunday or heard him at the temple. Some that
turned against him were even longtime followers. Some, who were steadfast in
their faith, just didn’t speak up loud enough. It was as if they didn’t know
any better, but surely they did. What intimidations and bribes will sway our
choices from the heavenly to the worldly? We are asked every day, “Do you
choose Barabbas or do you choose Christ? And Jesus? Throughout his last days he
became the perfect example of prayer and communion. He humbly carried on God’s
plan…. He became open to God’s presence in his life and listened to the voice
of a Holy Spirit. He loved the Father and cared for his people. He was one with
God.
Continue
reading on Examiner.com The last days with Jesus: Who
is Barabbas, part 2 - Albuquerque Catholic | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/catholic-in-albuquerque/the-last-days-with-jesus-who-is-barabbas-part-2#ixzz1p7iZQNT6
My thoughts: In our passage from 1 Kings, the Israelites choose wisely. They are offered the choice of the pagan god Baal or the true God. After seeing the power of God come down on Elijah’s altar, they choose the true God. The crowd at Jesus’trial, however, choose poorly. For whatever reason, they choose Barabbas whose name, ironically, means ‘son of the father’. They have the true Son of the Father before them, and, like the Israelites, have seen His power and love; yet it wasn’t enough for them. Is it enough for us? Choosing the false gods in our lives can only bring us pain. At some point we must begin to shout, “We want Jesus.” We must claim Him as our “Friend, in Whose sweet praise we all our days could gladly spend”!
Our prayer to God:We don’t know what caused the crowd to turn on Jesus and seek Barabbas. Let us examine our hearts today and find out why we do it. Is it fear of being different, of standing out in a crowd? Maybe we can be bribed with some earthly reward, or bought with a false promise of earthly praise or glory. Maybe we are just plain afraid to be a true disciple and follow Christ through the good times and the bad. Whatever it is that keeps us from being true to our Lord, let us fast from it this Lent and never disown Him again.
Prayer: My Song is
Love Unknown (Samuel Crossman)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjo-JiwyVAE&feature=relatedMy song is love unknown, My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown, That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake, My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne, Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none The longed for Christ would know:
But O! My Friend, my Friend indeed, Who at my need His life did spend.
But men made strange, and none The longed for Christ would know:
But O! My Friend, my Friend indeed, Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way, And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath, And for His death they thirst and cry.
Resounding all the day Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath, And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run; He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
He made the lame to run; He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
They rise and needs will have, My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved, The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes, That He His foes from thence might free.
A murderer they saved, The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes, That He His foes from thence might free.
In life, no house, no home, My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb But what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav’n was His home; but mine the tomb wherein He lay.
In death no friendly tomb But what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav’n was His home; but mine the tomb wherein He lay.
Here might I stay and sing, No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King! Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend.
Never was love, dear King! Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend.
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