It is interesting. Today is the last day of Epiphany. It is also the anniversary of the Earthquake in Christchurch. In much of the Catholic World, this is Mardi Gras: for lent starts tomorrow. They are celebrating, but here the radio tells me that the unidentified bodies from the earthquake will be buried today.
But I’m thinking of Big Lies, the fear of the church, and truth. We are left with a product of the cursus honorium who does not know what the truth is, when confronted with truth.
28Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” 32(This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)
33Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.”
Now the Pharisees were frightened. They considered it needful for Jesus to die. However, they needed PIlate. And Pilate, this pagan, cynical Roman, like most Romans, could judge aright. He found no wrong in Jesus.
However, the world looks for examples of Churches doing poorly. A GP who will not lease half of a right of way dubs the owners (a church) the “Neighbour from hell“. It is easier to blame the church than look for the truth.
Now, part of the truth is that the church is made of flawed individuals and is prone to error. But so is everyone else. But… if you throw enough mud, and make enough charges… and stir up a mob… you can kill the truth. It worked for the Pharisees, and it works now.