Jesus is condemned to die.
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” So each of us shall give an account of himself to God. Then let us not no longer judge one another, but rather never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. (Romans 14, 10-13)
On this early Friday morning it was not Pilate that condemned you Lord, it was me. They took you away and scourged You. They shouted, “Crucify Him!” That was me Lord, forgive me. This condemnation was unjust. You were beaten, mocked and condemned to die, for me and for the hundreds of million people around the world who are hungry; for the millions of children who are in poverty. I hold the lash, I placed the thorns on you and I shout “Crucify Him” each time I treat others unfairly. Each time I ignore the poor or treat them undignified I give another lash. I mock you when I allow the poor to suffer. I condemn You, when I do not see You in their eyes. In my tears of anguish for the poor, forgive me Jesus.
Prayer: Lord through Your condemnation, help us to share our goods with those who have nothing. Help all of us to bring Your love to the poor. They need You, in us to keep them from the hunger pangs, the loneliness, the suffering and scourging they receive in their poverty. Make our world a place where all people have adequate food, clean water, and access to medical needs. Amen
Our Father who art in Heaven . . . . . Amen.