Jesus Is Condemned to Death

After a night of prayer in the Garden of Olives, Jesus is arrested and brought before Pilate. Although Pilate finds no guilt in Him, the crowd loudly demands that He be crucified (cf. Jn 19:4-6; Mt 27:22-23). Pilate knows that Jesus is innocent, but out of fear of the people's pressure, he washes his hands (cf. Mt 27:24) and hands Him over to them (cf. Jn 19:16). Amid the noise, injustice and misunderstanding, Jesus remains silent, giving no answer to the accusations (cf. Mt 27:14). He does not resist or complain, but quietly accepts the heavy sentence. That silence is a sign of self-giving love and obedience to the will of the Father. The sins of each one of us also had a part in that sentence (cf. CCC 598). As we begin the Way of the Cross, we contemplate a God who accepts condemnation out of love for humanity. This is the first step of the journey of salvation, where love is greater than every injustice.

Pause for a moment

Have you ever felt misunderstood or treated unfairly? Our natural reaction is to explain ourselves or to grow angry. But Jesus chose silence and trust. We are invited to learn gentleness and peace from Him. When we meet injustice, instead of complaining, we can offer that sorrow to the Lord and trust that He always understands.