This being the Lenten Season, one is somehow automatically drawn to the unforgiving events of Christ’s Passion. For me, especially as it relates to the reactions of US media on the mass shootings that happened a world away in New Zealand. Unbelievable condemnation, but very expected in light of what is happening in the US.
BTW, within hours from the
carnage, almost to the man or woman US media pundits had very self-assuredly
unloaded direct blame at the feet of Donald Trump because of his “incendiary” rhetoric
on topics having completely no bearing at all on the NZ carnage; he who lives
and rules more than 7,000 miles away.
Unbelievable but still, expected.
But we can get our
understanding and valuable lesson from reading scripture, especially the trial
of Christ, prior to his gruesome Crucifixion.
I refer especially to the person of Annas, who had first dib at
judging Jesus Christ.
We remember that Annas was
not anymore in authority because he had finished his term as high priest. Shades of US media, composed of people
unelected and self-appointed. In other
words, Annas was in retirement and out of power, but he still wielded
critical influence in the politics of that time. Thus, the conspirators thought it best to
bring Christ first to him for judgment.
Of course, he was also the same person who said that in the pesky and
messy case of Christ and his ministry, the solution lies in that it is
expedient that one man dies, as a form of catharsis. Like the holocaust of a sacrificial
lamb? Scholars also say that Annas had
so much temporal notions of religion and salvation, so this could also be the
reason why those who wanted Jesus out of the way chose him as first judge.
So Annas stood for: That it was expedient for one man to die for
the cause!
This deterministic attitude
reminds me so much of the current situation in US politics. The opposition to Trump, which consists
mainly of the entire mainstream media, the Democratic Party, and ensconced
members of the Deep State in government, has been so determined and invested in
the avowed goal to remove Trump from office that like Annas and the
conspirators it would not stop at anything.
From lining up false witnesses, to weaving contradictory statements, to
outright petty accusations, to whatever, like having a headless special counsel
jerking every which way. Everything took
on the mantle of legitimacy and credibility because the goal was perceived as
both moral and true. The self-appointed
moral betters had declared that Trump had “to be executed”. And that was all that mattered. Truth and rule of law be damned.
Thus the current Trump
opposition has become the worst imitators of the biblical Annas.
And do you remember how
Christ handled all this, including the final questions of Annas? He answered them all with silence? The mighty power of silence!