Give Us Barabbas

Like most people these days, I have been upset about the crises affecting our family, our city, our nation, and our world. Even we of the same professed faith seem divided. So, I decided to walk and pray the rosary to try and clear my mind. As I walked and prayed, I wondered how this will all play out and what I’m to make of it all. That’s when I sensed the words, ‘Give us Barabbas’ within me.

I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews? They cried out again, ‘Not this one but Barabbas!’ (John 18:38-40).

Well, I know what happened with Barabbas, but just who was he really? Heading home, I grabbed my New Catholic Encyclopedia and looked him up.

Who Was Barabbas?

Barabbas is a surname which is Aramaic meaning ‘son of Abba. It is believed his first name to be ‘Jesus’. Although he was said to be a robber, the Aramaic used more properly translated as a revolutionary (the meaning of which was also used by Josephus the historian in his recordings of the time).

Barabbas led a rebellion against the Romans who were charged with keeping law and order in the Jerusalem outpost. During this time there was an uprising in which someone was killed and he was arrested. He was considered a hero by some and even thought to be one who would usher in the messiah; bringing about the change they so desired of the oppression they Jews were under. Knowing the tradition of releasing a prisoner before the Passover, many of Barabbas’ followers were there before Pilate. Some historians believed they had planned to be there and ask for his release according to the custom.

Jesus Was Without Fault

So, here we have Jesus who stands before Pilate, having had no fault found in him. Jesus who taught the truth in love, not only for the Jews but for the Gentiles as well. Jesus who healed the Centurion’s slave because of his (the Roman’s) great faith. Jesus, who said to love your neighbor, Jew or Gentile, and to love and pray for those who persecute you.

One would think that anyone with an ounce of common sense would see that Jesus had no fault. What should Pilate do? He wants to avoid a riot. It is believed by some that he hates his assignment, this outpost in Jerusalem. It’s up to him to keep the peace and there seems to be a perfect storm brewing here.

Why not bring out Barabbas? Surely the mobs will want to release Jesus of Nazareth and condemn Jesus Barabbas! But the mobs gathered that morning were jealous Sanhedrin and rioters who wanted there leader released. Give us Barabbas they cry, and Barabbas is released without bond so-to-speak. Sound familiar at all?

Troubling Times

We are surely living in troubling times. Between virus fears, government over-reach, to mask or not to mask, and riots stemming from one mans horrific behavior, one can surely say that it’s hard to know who to believe or which way to turn. The masses are frustrated and fuel is daily feeding the fire. Good innocent people who try to make a difference or speak the truth in love are being hurt and killed, while violent rioters are released from jail without bond. What is a God-fearing person to do?

Do Not Fear

Fear of God. Fear Him, not in a way which makes one cower from some evil, but the good holy fear of loving Him and the fear of ever losing Him. 366 times Jesus tells us not to fear the world. It won’t add a thing to our lives but more trouble than the day deserves. Fear NOT speaking the truth in love for the neighbor and love for the enemy. It is believed by some that the means of getting what one believes is their right is justified, regardless of who gets hurt or what really is true, but the ends do not justify the means.

Pilate had this very conundrum in front of him when he asked Jesus what was the truth. He could also have had fear of the crowds rioting, fear of getting a worse assignment if he failed to quell the mobs. It is a very sticky situation and one we are living now. We fear people around us. We wonder what they think of us and if they knew what we thought or believed, and if they knew would they cancel us out (Cancel Culture), or could we even begin a conversation based in love? Should we be marching in the streets? Should we give our support to official organizations who seek to overthrow our Constitution or defund our police?

What To Do

Before we do anything, pray. Pray, pray, and then pray. Do research. Do the experts we listen to have an exact science? Are they consistent in what they tell us? Is the medical advice moral (are aborted fetal cells being used)? Are the organizations we wish to support compatible with our faith? Look to see if they have a creed of sorts and does that creed support everything The Church teaches in faith and morals? Do the people who head them profess a loving faith in God, or do they seek to force their own hand and take over? Do any of these people or organizations look anything like Barabbas? Remember what St. Paul said to the Ephesians, that love is not demanding but rejoices in the truth.

If the answer to any of these questions has us following the revolutionaries instead of the one God-man who came to revolutionize our hearts, if we are listening to the voices that have us harboring anger, then we are following the wrong voice. Have no fear of the Barabbas’ in the world. Fear losing Jesus of Nazareth, and fear the thought that so many wounded people, neighbors, family, friends, enemies are lost and need our prayers. Plunge each one of these worries, each one of these people into the depths of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Trust Him and His wisdom. He wills the salvation of every soul He has created and we should too. His ways are clearly not our ways and for that, I am so thankful. The problems we face are not viruses and riots over rights. The problems we face are a lack of knowledge and love of God, each person’s dignity, and a lack of trust.

Pray

Don’t be afraid of speaking when God gives you the words and the moment. It is believed by some that the two ‘thieves’ who were crucified with Jesus were fellow revolutionaries of Barabbas. One of them remained rebellious to the end. The other spoke the truth of his humanity and the need for redemption. Which of these two men do we identify with? Which one am I? I pray when the time comes and I’m called to testify to all that is good, all that is true, though I will be surrounded by my accusers, I do it out of love of God and love of the other, and before I open my mouth, may I pray pray pray!