by Rev. James M. DiLuzio CSP

The following comes from a short story by Anton Chekhov: There once was a wealthy Russian Matron– demanding, impatient, dismissive to the point of cruelty in the way she treated her maid servant.  One day, in a particularly angry and condescending mood, the matron snaps at the young woman as usual. This time, however, she focuses on the girl’s eyes and realizes for the first time the deep humility–the depth of the servant’s unconditional care for the older woman.  The matron bursts into to tears. She cries out, “How is it you care for me?  I have not shown you the slightest kindness. How is it that you take my abuse time and time again? I am undone!” The matron sits at her desk and sobs uncontrollably, waving the maid away.  Chekhov leaves us there. What will happen next?  Will any good come of it this encounter or will all go back to the way things were? 

Human Nature is filled with contradictions. Often, we are BLIND TO GRACE. Yes, even we disciples get caught up in our own drives, our own priorities, our own needs. We take others for granted. Tempted to believe  we are above the common fray; we think we are not like others. We fancy ourselves “superior specimens.”  In frivolous moments it may be fun to think that even God could learn a thing or two from us!  But should we fully believe that, should we think that our achievements are all that matter in this world,  or that beyond our personal comfort, nothing matters, nothing is worth striving for– we are in a bad state. It is called SIN.  We are prone to it. It enervates us, makes us fatigued. We live for ourselves without  a quest, a greater good, a greater Truth to inspire us.  This is why the Mass begins with the Confiteor, or Penitential Rite. This is why the phrase “have mercy on us” is included in the Gloria we pronounce every Sunday. Our souls cannot move into Sacred Space without self-scrutiny for the love of God. And it is because we are loved by God that we trust our failings are forgiven and hope becomes eternal.  

Sadly,  there are those among us who adopt a different worldview.  Oozing arrogance, they stain their souls with overindulgence. They take their delusions of grandeur all too seriously, regarding no one worthy of their time beyond those who serve their purposes and priorities. Often bitter and vengeful, they succumb to the deadliest of the Seven Deadly Sins: Pride beyond the need for relationships, beyond self-scrutiny, beyond the give and take of forgiveness, beyond God. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus stands before such a person. His name is Pilate. Notice the extraordinary contrast between one man and the other. Pilate is cynical. Pilate is bored and bothered. Pilate believes  he can afford to be thus, because, after all, he is Caesar’s regent. He has legions of armies behind him.  

Jesus on the other hand stands alone,  seemingly powerless before this earthly judge. Yet take note of Jesus’ confidence, his self-awareness, his courage to speak TRUTH to Pilate who cannot imagine TRUTH to be POWER. The Truth that Jesus speaks: Life is rooted in the Absolute Goodness of God. Only  belief in God, God’s patience, God’s mercy, God’s Justice, and  God’s care for creation bring fullness of life. God’s Holy Spirit empowers courage in us to wage against the falsehoods, the evils of this world. Jesus embodies those Truths and invites us to incarnate them, too. Trust in ourselves and in our illusions, well, then our potential for building strong character, our strivings for heaven are lost. Trust in God, in Christ, and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, then Prudence, Temperance, Justice, and Courage deliver us into the Kingdom Jesus inaugurated. A kingdom where Faith, Hope, and Love reign eternally. 

Pilate does not see this.  He does not see Jesus as Jesus is meant to be seen. If he did, he might have noticed Jesus’ compassion and care—yes, care, even for Pilate. He would have seen himself as a lost sheep, recognize his arrogance as his false self — a camouflage for his inner fear and confusion, compelling him to avoid the good, the right, the  virtuous and take the easy way out –giving in the manic cries of a crowd who could not see what they were becoming, the temptations to which they succumbed.   Alas, neither they nor Pilate took the time for  self-scrutiny, for he became their spokesman in the way he scoffs Jesus.  Jesus said, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”  Pilate’s cynical response: “What is truth?”

Happily, we are not celebrating Pilate today.  We are worshiping Jesus as Christ and True King, the only TRUE Messiah. Jesus does not compromise eternal verities. Jesus abides in universal, absolute, and necessary Truths that alone offer human fulfillment. Jesus knows too well what Pilate represents–a world that sees no end but its own ends. A world that hides behind delusions of grandeur, manipulating Justice to its own ends.  

Today we acknowledge, once again, Christ the King as the only one worthy of the title. We pray that in the presence of temptation, we will not forsake truth, even amid confrontation and conflict.  BUT WE WILL FORSAKE EASY WAYS OUT OF DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. We pray to strengthen one another in building character– not compromising our true self – because we do not have to! Jesus is Christ, Lord, and Our God and He is here to help.