Antoni BigCuore*
Date: alt. 13.04.2019
Location: São Paulo, SP.
Second Gospel - (Luke 23: 1-49)
Let us reflect on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Luke, chapter 23, verses 1 to 49, which highlights Jesus' dialogue with Pilate.
Since it is too long, let us briefly present it with his central idea.
Jesus before Pilate. 1. "All the multitude arose; and brought him to Pilate. They began to accuse him saying: "We find this man SUBVERTING our nation, preventing the taxes being paid to Cesar and claiming to be Christ the King." Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
Responding, he declared, "Thou sayest."
Later in verse 13 we read: "After summoning the chief priests, the chiefs, and the people, Pilate, he said to them:" You present me this man as a stirrer of the people: now I have questioned him before you and I HAVE NOT FOUND THIS MOORING SOMETHING OF ANY CONDEMNATION, as you accuse it. "(My italics).
In chapter 18 we read: "But they all shouted together," Die this man! Let us loose Barabbas! " Crucify him, crucify him, cried the Jews being manipulated by the Jewish elite of that time, namely, the Pharisees, Masters of the Law and the high priests Annas and Caiaphas.
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REFLECTION OF A. BIGCUORE. Jesus is then condemned to death and rather goes through a process of suffering and flogging determined by Pilate who "washes his hands." It is important to note that Pilate's wife was fond of Jesus and sensitized to his messages. But, unfortunately, politicians are always afraid of the people and not to conflict with it, decided to hand Jesus over to their executioners.
In verse 34, when Jesus was crucified alongside two thieves, the so-called good and evil thief, Jesus uttered the most spectacular phrase of Luke's Gospel, when he said: "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM: YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU DO."
One can clearly see the feeling of Jesus' COMPASSION towards his executioners. Even on the cross, after being cruelly plagued, He FORGIVES His enemies !!! This is the essence of Christianity: forgive and be forgiven!
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FORGIVENESS IS THE MOST SUBLIME OF LOVE!
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Jesus says to the good thief: "Verily I say unto you, YOU shall be with Me in Paradise" (verse 43).
The good thief rebukes the evil thief for his ironic words against Jesus, saying: "it is justice for us; we are paying for our actions; but he did no harm. "(v. 41)
My brothers and sisters in Christ, the Master's legacy is to be imitated by all of us Christians. Jesus gave us his example. He was always consistent with the mission entrusted to him by his Heavenly Father: he became incarnate in the Virgin Mary, became man and spread the message of LOVE that almost all mankind knows.
The Pharisees and Doctors of the Law thought that Jesus longed for power. Ledo mistake. The message of Jesus is essentially a message of Love. The love of God is totally free! That is the great difference in relation to human love. The elite of Israel's power did not understand this and was afraid of losing their privileges!
"Do unto others as ye would that they should do unto you." Love your enemies. If you love only those who love you, what merit is there in that? Even the pagans do.
We have, day by day, to seek to be better people, who love people who think differently from us; we must be TOLERANT towards our fellow men. The individual attitude of every Christian CHANGES THE WORLD !!! Let us think, then.
Blessings of health, peace, prosperity, harmony and much joy in their hearts and their families !. Shalom!.
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(1) Bible of Jerusalem. Paulus editora, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, pages 1,974 / 75
(2) (*) The author is a friend of the good and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole planet. Access your Blog Bem Viver Brazil- HTTP://antonibigcuore.blogspot.com and its poetic link: WWW.recantodasletras.com.br/autores/antonibigcuore Original 19.03.2016. (amendments on 24.03.2018 and 13.04.2019).
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