REFLECTION ON PONTIUS PILATE

Today we begin the holy Triduum. The days in the Triduum are called holy because they help us relive the central event of our redemption, the crust of our Christian faith which is the passion, death and resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ. 

Today, being Holy Thursday, I would like us to reflect on Pilate, the one who passed the final judgement for Jesus to be crucified (Jn. 18:28-40). During the trial, Pilate was very convinced of the innocence of Jesus. He himself realized the Sanhedrin had only brought him to be crucified to protect their unregulated interests. He also had the power to set him free but out of fear of the loud voice of the people,  he confirmed the unjust death sentence which the Jews demanded. 

Today, anytime someone speaks about the passion of Christ, Pilate is named as the one who passed the judgement. There are several legends surrounding his name because of what he did. Popular among them is that, after the trial his conscience troubled him and he never had peace until he finally committed suicide. You can also read about Pilate’s connection to Mount. Pilatus. 

He could have saved Jesus and save himself all the legends surrounding his name if he had listened to the voice of his conscience rather than the people around him. His conscience kept reminding him during the trial, this man is innocent. But because he feared the power he had will be taken from him when the Jews report him to Caesar, he decided to please the Jews than his own conscience. 

But conscience is not a thing to be disobeyed. If you doubt me you can ask Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, after they killed King Duncan to make Macbeth the king of Scotland in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. 

In times today, Pilate lives in those who for their own advancements, career, wealthy marriage, deny their convictions and forsake their faith. He lives in those who will join the public in indecency and immorality and silence the voice of their conscience which tells them it is wrong. 

We can silence our conscience and keep on pleasing people all we can, but a time will come when our conscience will retaliate and its voice will be terrible. You can look at the end of the Macbeths or Pilate himself. Think about it. 

Have a blessed Triduum. God is enough. Peace. 

By Maxwell Alaaje