“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” A cry that deserves an answer! The question is sincere. The answer will come … but not before the pain of death prepares the way.

But first, how do you explain the cruel mocking of Jesus on the cross? How do you justify cruelty and torture in our own times?

Have you ever heard the phrase, “hate is fear?” It infers that behind every act of hate there lurks a deep and abiding fear.
Bullies ridicule; gangs mock: political persuasions slander and sabotage!

Odd isn’t it, when nations steeped in religious tradition, torture their enemies. They offer excuses - just as Pilate and Annas did - in the scourging and crucifixion of Jesus.

Can’t we make the connection between the Gospel story and our own moral values? Or is it inevitable that ‘fear trumps faith’?

Pilate’s soldiers are good at mocking. But so are we in ways that are subtle, self-redeeming and sometimes vicious.

Jesus’ cry of anguish is from Psalm 22! He does not play the pity card, or beg, or pout. But his question deserves an answer nevertheless.

My God