In an age that longs to believe it is far more advanced technologically, intellectually and morally than previous ages, it is a salutary thing to note that the present day trend of the culture of blame does little to support the idea that we have advanced at all. Our first two readings point to the suffering silence of Christ – his humility and obedience to his Father’s will, but behind it lays the all too human trait of wanting to make someone suffer, to want to get rid of someone even if it means making up lies to do so. The ninth commandment “Thou shalt not bear false witness” reminds us of our calling to resist this all too human failing.
The culture of blame leads to an almost irrational clamour to have someone hauled over the coals, humiliated, stripped of their job or position and cast into a state of ignominy and disgrace in order that they pay for the crimes that someone else has committed. The thinking seems to be that in a modern world every bad thing can be prevented and that therefore someone has failed at the highest level and must pay. In reality this achieves nothing and usually incredibly talented people are dismissed and are replaced with mediocre grey people who rarely achieve anything. I wonder how Winston Churchill and Lloyd George would measure up to the Thought Police that run our newspapers and television journalism? And who I wonder inspects the life of the editors and journalists to make sure that people in glass houses don’t throw stones?
Is today’s culture of blame any better than the blame and shame that was heaped upon our Lord? The High Priest had prophesied (not knowing what he was saying) that it was right that one man should die for the people, and so an innocent man, Jesus of Nazareth, as the victim of false witness (for the truth must never stand in the way of expediency or for that matter a good story), is taken out amid catcalls, jeering and insult; having been flogged and humiliated – when he had done nothing deserving of death. In silence and humility Jesus bears all this for us that the world may be redeemed, and in so doing also identifies with innocent victims everywhere.
XI. Jesus is nailed to the Cross
Luke 23:33 And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, 37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Here in this Station we see hammers raised and nails tearing through flesh and sinew, the agony expressed in sounds any moral person would never wish to hear. We see the transverse beam raised and locked into position on the upright beam and finally the same sight and sounds are heard again as the feet are nailed to the cross. And then there is the gasping for breath as the shock takes hold and all remains quiet for some time, but then Jesus speaks. One of the criminals crucified with Jesus rails against him, blaming Jesus for his predicament. It may be the human default temptation for any man in this position to seek to blame someone else. However, the other criminal recognises something even more important – he sees the immense cruelty and injustice that is being perpetrated on an innocent man and somehow amidst it all he finds the faith to ask Jesus those sublime words, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”...... the prayer of a dying man. But if those words are sublime then they were surely inspired by hearing Jesus forgive his enemies from the Cross.... “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” The faith of this condemned criminal leads to his own redemption on his Cross as he hears even more sublime words: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Those who encourage the culture of blame would be enraged by these words. They clamour for revenge, for punishment, for a scapegoat or fall-guy; but Christ comes to forgive and at this Station, as he forgives a condemned man, we should all think of those we have unjustly condemned..... we should pray for them...... and for ourselves that we might let go of bitterness and hatred......... let go of our pride and desire to see someone pay...... and learn the lesson of forgiveness that Christ gives us from the Cross. In his railing against his sentence being carried out and at Jesus not doing anything to get him out of this predicament the unrepentant criminal finds no peace of mind or soul at all. It is the thief that responds to the message of forgiveness that finds redemption.
At this station may we learn to be forgiving... may we learn to defend the innocent.... and learn to resist the temptation to join the clamour to find a scapegoat.... for in embracing Christ’s way we will find peace of mind and soul, and experience the same joy that the repentant thief also discovered in paradise.
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