Let my people go

Friday, March 21, 2008 Good Friday

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel: Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25 Hebrews 4:14-16 - 5:7-9 John 18:1 - John 19:42

John 18:8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he; so, if you seek me, let these men go."

Today's readings are so packed with significance that it is hard to take it all in. The idea that verse 8 above communicates to me though is that the people's beef is really with God.  I think that Jesus by coming and dying on the cross takes the battle to where it really belongs.  We spend a lot of time fighting and arguing with each other, but it is our fight with God that counts. Our battles only mask our fight with God.  Jesus comes and says "I am he".  In other words he says your fight is with me, so let the others go.  By sacrificing himself on the cross he spares our lives because he makes everyone accountable to him. He becomes the scape goat. He becomes the one who takes all the blame. He is the one that takes the beating. Jesus takes evil head on here.  He meets the evil one and says your fight is with me.

Every one of us has to ask ourselves if we are fighting God or if we are with him.  If we are fighting God then we are the evil and our fight is with Jesus Christ.  If we are with God, then Jesus says to the evil, let them go, your fight is with me. Jesus echos the words of Moses here when Moses goes to Pharaoh and says "Let my people go".

Father, this of all days is the most painful and yet the most important.  This is where the people divide.  Do we yell crucify, do we run away, or do we stay at the cross with your son?  Help me, by your Holy Spirit to remain at the cross with your son, so I can be one of those Jesus is talking about when he says let these men go.

Amen