In Holy Week, there are so many rich readings and prayers and rites that it can easily be overwhelming. We may turn to advice from the saints for how to focus our prayers during this most holy week of the year. In the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola gives a basic method for praying with passages from Scripture, especially the Gospels. He says to first look at the persons present in the passage, then to consider what they are saying, and finally to see what they are doing. Each day this Holy Week, we can choose one person present in the Gospel reading, and consider that person, what that person says, and what that person does. In this way, we can begin to focus each day, and allow that focus to keep bringing us closer to Jesus who proves this week that He loves us indeed to the end.
St. Matthew’s account of Christ’s Passion allows us to consider in particular the man directly responsible for the order to execute Jesus: Pontius Pilate. Pilate was the Roman governor of the province of Judea. From various sources we learn that he was often cruel in his administration of Judea. Here, however, we see that given the silence of Jesus in the face of those who have handed him over, Pilate can tell that this man is innocent. Pilate’s words betray him. When he asks the crowd for the sentence they seek against Our Lord, and he hears that it is the sentence of death, Pilate asks, “Why? What evil has he done?” (Mt 27:23) He knows Jesus is innocent. He can tell that to give in to the crowd’s demands would be unjust in the extreme. And yet, rather than defend the innocent, he gives in to the crowd.
Pilate’s gesture in the moment of handing over Jesus is striking. He took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd. The person with full authority and military power and responsibility to see that justice is done, feigns innocence and attempts to wash himself of accountability for the blood of the innocent man whom he hands over to the crowds. The demands of love of neighbor are clear here, and to defend Jesus may well have cost Pilate in the face of the escalating tensions and possible riot. Yet, we have before us a stark portrait of the sinful hardening of heart that fear induces: the man who could do something to save the innocent, instead washing his hands and shirking his responsibility. In death of Christ who suffered for us all, let us be shocked by the display of Pilate which enabled that violent death. Let us ask God to forgive us of the times when we have turned our back on those who clearly needed our help. Let us ask Christ, by the merits of His sacrifice of love, to strengthen us to meet love’s demands once again.