To the editor:
Who was the mob that shouted for the crucifixion? Did it really include the crowd on Palm Sunday? I wondered. It has been said so or inferred. I decided to find out.
In the second volume of "Jesus of Nazareth" by Pope Benedict XVI I found the answer. I’ll quote those passages that I found most compelling to me. He writes on page 8… "Those taking part were not inhabitants of Jerusalem, but the crowds who accompanied Jesus and entered the Holy City with him… people had heard of the prophet from Nazareth, but he did not appear to heave any importance for Jerusalem, and the people there did not know him. The crowd that paid homage to Jesus at the gateway to the city was not the same crowd that later demanded his crucifixion…"
From pages 185 & 186…"this ‘crowd’ is made up of the followers of Barabbas who have been mobilized to secure the amnesty for him … the followers of Jesus remained hidden out of fear… The real group of accusers is the current temple authorities, joined… by the "crowd" of Barabbas supporters."
I encourage you to read the three volumes on Jesus that the pope so loving wrote for our benefit.
Now, on page B10 of the April Courier appears a question (posed to CNS columnist) Father Kenneth Doyle by a Jesuit educated person saying the (questioner) didn’t believe Christ is really present in the Eucharist. "This is my body, this is my blood" is the pre-eminent tenet of our faith! The catechism isn’t up for debate. As St. Paul writes, "whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord", and …"eats and drinks judgment on himself" 1 Cor. 11:27-29. Amen! I hope this person talks to a good priest.
Gail Bryant
Rochester
