Trial
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March 23, 2018“Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death… But…their testimony did not agree.” (Mk 14:55, 59)
Here we have a cacophony of voices: lies, half-truths and conflicting witnesses. No truth is to be found in their mouths. Hatred has overcome reason, so any reason will do. Why is it that we can be so seduced by a false unity behind a false cause? There is chaos in this room and a dreadful momentum. No voice of truth can be heard here.
“Have you no answer? … But he was silent and did not answer. (Mk 14:60-61)
There is no defense to persuade minds fixed on falsehood. They do not have ears to hear. Jesus is the Word among words, a Word of love among words of hate, silent and he opened not his mouth.
“Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” (Mk 14:61)
The high priest puts his finger on it at last. A voice of clarity: this is what we are looking for. If you are this beloved Son, we will have you at last. If you are the Son of God, we will kill you and claim your inheritance. We will throw you out of the vineyard and put you to death. Here is a charge to which Jesus can respond, wholeheartedly. This is the judgment, the critical moment, for it becomes crystal clear that truth means death.
“I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power,’
and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’” (Mk 14:62)
