MAUNDY THURSDAY (4/1/21)

Hi, my name is Katie Comeau and I’ve been attending Riverside since I
first moved to South Bend in 2014 for graduate school. I now live back in
MA and consider myself as part of the Farmington Square Home Group
and Riverside’s extended family.

  • First, take a moment to read the passage from Matthew 27:11-26.

I have always wondered what it was like to be in Pilate’s shoes during
this time. Pilate was essentially the governor of the region and hated
by the Jews. While Pilate probably deserved much of the Jews’ anger,
there are other reasons I am disappointed in him and also troubled by
the account in the gospels. In this passage (and also in John 19), we read
several opportunities for Pilate to make the right choice. He evidently
knew that Jesus was innocent. However, not even the warning from
his wife prevented him from abdicating his responsibility and washing
himself of Jesus’ blood. Initially, he tried to get Herod Antipas to take
over the case. When that didn’t work, he turned to the crowd to have
them decide Jesus’ fate. I am disappointed, but also troubled because
I know God gives me many opportunities to do good towards others
and I let others take on that responsibility.

Here are some questions to ponder:

  • In what ways have I been avoiding the responsibility of doing good despite the power to do so?
  • In what ways has the American church been avoiding the responsibility to do good?
  • Where do I sense God’s promptings to listen to him? Do I need to create more space in my life to listen to God?