Sunday, March 20, 2016

Palm Sunday, 2016

Throughout Holy Week churches recite the Passion of Jesus. Today the congregation read Luke's Gospel, in which the Roman centurion observes at the Crucifixion, "surely this was an innocent man." That statement evokes sadness, and perhaps anger at the injustice of the wronged Innocent.

In Matthew and Mark the centurion states "Truly this man was the son of God." To the same emotions of sadness and anger we must add fear: if one kills the son of God, there will surely be a price to pay.

The death of Jesus occurred in the past, and we can do nothing about that now except quake in fear of Divine retribution. We can, however, strive to protect the innocent today. Not surprisingly, I prefer Luke's version.

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