Joining the Crowd

Over the last couple of weeks the word crowd in reference to the Jews of the time is prevalent in various scripture passages from John's Gospel passage reference to the Jesus instructing the lame man to take up his mat, his outburst in the temple to those who profess to know him, and finally today in the Passion.  What brings out the worst of the worst behavior of those in the crowd? What brings people to want bloodshed?

In the today's Magnificat meditation Caryll Houselander sheds a somewhat prophetic light on this behavior how those who might otherwise of sane actions take up cause that has been inspired by a human leader and lose their identity in their lust to share the power of the leader.  Oh,the desire to belong to something always tempts us. It is easy to join in a conversation that targets a particular person who is not liked for their behavior or actions that do not correspond to ours.  Or for that matter to join a movement that seems to address a particular injustice whether real or not.  Is this any different than the crowds who rose up against Jesus? We are challenged to take up the cross instead of standing on the sidelines and hurling insults.  The challenge not join in a condemning conversation of a colleague or the latest news-making personality is our cross. Do I have it within me to pray instead for those whose views do not reflect mine or those whose actions arouse anger and condemnation? Or is it easier to belong to the crowd that Caryll Houselander alludes to?

I harken back to last Sunday's Gospel reading in which Jesus says to the crowd waiting to to waiting to stone the adulteress, "Let those among you who is without sin throw the first stone." For me I am all to ready to throw the stone, condemnation, or insulting word at a sinner. I pray that for the next seven days of Holy Week, I can unite with body of Christ, my fellow humans of whom I belong and help take up their cross whatever it might be and be merciful. Lord Jesus Christ Son of everliving God, have mercy on me a sinner.