Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Release Barabbas
RCIA last night concerned the Paschal mystery. The Crucifixion of Christ. Part of that story, it occurs to me, was giving a choice to the people to release Jesus, or the criminal Barabbas. "The people" in this case, was a trumped up crowd the enemies of Jesus gathered together. I have to wonder how many could have flooded the streets that day but stayed home. How many people didn't want to get involved, didn't want to stand up against the powerful of the day. I wonder how many, hearing the yelling, didn't really believe their community would stoop so low as to torture and kill an innocent man. I haven't written much, if any, about the Terri Schiavo court case, but when I was doing my daily read of summa mamas, I noticed that the court order to begin starving Terri to death will take effect on March 18th, with death expected within 7 to 30 days. Good Friday is March 25th and there the window opens for Terri's death.
Here again, Good Friday approaches and we are given a choice. Shall we, as a community, choose to release Terri from her sentence of torturous death, or will we stay at home and do nothing and let the crowd have their way. The cards seem stacked against her, a trumped up crowd is letting few others speak and none on her behalf. Today, it is even easier than 2000 years ago. Today you don't even have to leave your chair to make your voice heard. Today, you can contact your representatives here.
Don't wonder, after Terri is put to death, how it could have happened. You hear the braying crowd outside your window even now. You hear the shouts from the court, "Release Barabbas!" You hear the chants beginning, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Will you close your shudders again and consider yourself too small a voice again?
Here again, Good Friday approaches and we are given a choice. Shall we, as a community, choose to release Terri from her sentence of torturous death, or will we stay at home and do nothing and let the crowd have their way. The cards seem stacked against her, a trumped up crowd is letting few others speak and none on her behalf. Today, it is even easier than 2000 years ago. Today you don't even have to leave your chair to make your voice heard. Today, you can contact your representatives here.
Don't wonder, after Terri is put to death, how it could have happened. You hear the braying crowd outside your window even now. You hear the shouts from the court, "Release Barabbas!" You hear the chants beginning, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Will you close your shudders again and consider yourself too small a voice again?
