Release Barabbas!

Today at Holy Mass Jesus in the Gospel of St Luke cured a woman who has suffered for 18 years…Let’s just stop right there for a moment - Suffering for 18 years is no joke - Under any circumstance….Yet - The leaders of the people because Jesus cured her and the people recognized what he did - They had a problem with Jesus…What does that tell you?….The powerful could care less about the people, even when a woman was suffering for 18 years…”Not my problem”….They care about their power - Sound familiar?…..Absolute power corrupts absolutely - We have all heard that said before…...Mankind without God is lost….Our human nature must be tempered by Divine Grace and when its not we see the exact same thing play out in the gospel written 2000 years ago play out today in real time….Man does not know who he is without God and as a result, when God is ignored, the powerful abuse the weak - They excuse their behavior - Rationalize it through self delusions that they are “doing good” - The question is - Good for who? - The answer - Themself and “their tribe”…..History time and time again tells us this - But we chose to ignore history….The question is - Why?….The answer - Mankind still believes God takes and does not give….That God is some kind of ogre……That in order to be “free”, we must ignore God….The story plays out century after century and in the mean time, people suffer endlessly….And will continue to suffer…..This Gospel story today at Mass harkens my memory back to when Pontius Pilate gave “the crowd” an opportunity to free Christ…The crowd however preferred to free a criminal by the name of Barabbas………”But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” (Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.) Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed.”………Mankind refuses to bend its knee to God…And instead we create our “own god" - Who is a criminal and a murderer.......Mick Jagger of the famous rock band, the Rolling Stones describes it best……”I watched with glee while your kings and queens fought for ten decades for the gods they made……Let me please introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste………Pleased to meet you hope you guess my name?”……Once again - Look around - Sound familiar?

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him”

What will wake up our wounded world? - The answer - Saints…..Only through the example of the saints, will people “see” a glimpse of God and be inspired to change…..This is why ”hard times” usually breeds saints……Catholics need to stop “siting on their hands” and start kneeing more in prayer…..Stop “voting harder” for politicians that can not solve our problems and start fasting more……People believe what they see and if we as Catholics, who possess the Truth in its fullness…Who have all seven Sacraments…Who have Our Lady…Do not strive to live holy and blameless lives - Shame on us!……Catholics have been endowed with the most and we have a tendency to squander it….Once again…Shame on us……Are you just like everyone else?…..Can people tell you are Catholic just by looking at how you and your family live?…..This is the problem and this must change!……God’s way works but if people do not “see it” - They will not pursue it…..That falls on us!…..Catholics must lead the way - So stop “siting around” - Its time to get serious

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!"

Today St Luke tells us about how the powerful ignore the suffering of the weak….Yet at the same time, these powerful men tell themself they are “doing good” - And many people believe them!……The human mind can be convinced of almost anything…..How do we “see” through the fog of lies and corruption that has plagued mankind since the very beginning of time?……The answer - In two words - Jesus Christ!…..Many will agree with me upon reading this reflection but their is a “catch” - Remember - I am from New Jersey - There is always a “catch”…And the “catch” is - We must completely bend our knee to God…..I can hear it now - “Crickets” - I just "lost" many people who are reading this reflection…...But again - I am from New Jersey - So I will tell it to you straight….Until Catholics get real serious and pursue a holy life cooperating with God fully and the Church he created - Bending our will until that will of ours breaks! - And living sacrificial lives grounded in prayer and Sacramental Grace - Expect the same non-sense…….Do we really know the difference between Barabbas and Jesus Christ? - We say we do - So if we do - Why is “the crowd” still shouting - Release Barabbas!…….JMJ

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