In the gospel of Luke, we see Jesus being taken for examination before the Sanhedrin, then to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, then to King Herod, the puppet ruler of the Roman occupation, before finally returning to Pilate who states plainly, 'I find no case against this man' (Lk 22:4). How often have we gone the extra mile to persecute and bully someone—hatred can consume us as we look for any way to make a person's life difficult. Jesus experiences being passed from pillar to post, while all the time being insulted and persecuted—Herod even wanted Jesus to work his 'magic' for him. It is interesting to note, as an aside, that Jesus' ministry of reconciliation was able to bring Pilate and Herod together on that first Good Friday, 'even though they has been enemies before' (Lk 23:12).

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him." But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. (Lk 23:20-25).

We see not only a fickle and weak leader, but a weak and fickle crowd: these are the same people who cried out 'Hosanna' (Lk 19:38) only days before as Jesus rode into Jerusalem—there was a recognition of his status and role even though he humbly travelled on a donkey. This crowd is not baying for his blood and want him officially killed to satisfy their anger. How many times have we done a similar thing in the way we treat others—we do not care who we throw under the bus, as long as we are happy. This weak governor is prepared to let Barabbas, a rioter and a murder go free in order to please the crowd and 'handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they pleased' (Lk 23:25). Leadership will sometimes mean that decisions have to be made that we might not like or want: nobody actually wished for twelve months of lockdown and strict rules governing even meeting our grandparents. However, rules had to be made; leadership had to be shown and where social distancing and the wearing of masks were ignored, we saw huge spikes in the COVID-19 rates. Some argue that they have a right not to wear a mask and to mix with whoever they want; however, with every God-given right comes God-given responsibilities. We need to face the demands of peer pressure head on and not buckle at the first obstacle. We need to support each other as we carry our own crosses through life and not make crosses for them.

We can pray:

Lord, you willingly subjected yourself to mockery and scorn. Help us not to ally ourselves with those who look down on the weak and suffering. Help us to acknowledge your face in the lowly and the outcast. May we never lose heart when faced with the contempt of this world, which ridicules our obedience to your will. You carried your own Cross and you ask us to follow you on this path (cf. Mt 10:38). Help us to take up the Cross, and not to shun it. May we never complain or become discouraged by life's trials. Help us to follow the path of love and, in submitting to its demands, to find true joy. (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger for the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum, Good Friday 2005