But balancing power in Palestine, then, had little to do with oil or water.

It was more like juggling torches while standing knee deep in gunpowder. Those in places of power do not always have any passion for what is right, when so much seems to be at stake.

And what is right?

It is better to keep the peace, and avoid the deaths of many, or to save the life of one innocent man?

But perhaps Pilate was not so altruistic.
Perhaps the equation only included a choice
between eliminating an innocent but annoying rabbi
or bearing the bother of a rowdy and disquieting rabble.
We cannot know Pilate's inner thoughts.

But there is little purity of motivation in this life, for any of us.
There is often more confusion than clarity,
especially in times of high emotion ­
times when we perceive that something important to us is threatened.

We are constantly faced with choosing between maintaining the delicate balances in our life as it is, or enduring the cost and the risk of seeking righteousness.

Family members can find themselves having to choose between keeping the peace ­ and watching while a spouse, or son, or daughter is swallowed by shadows ­ or speaking the difficult and painful truth, risking all that we know in hopes that there might be life, somehow, on the other side of brokeness.

As we walk through our lives we are often standing at the crossroads. Haven't we found ourselves willing, in the life of our communities, to tarnish someone else's reputation to keep ourselves out of the way of a rowdy and disquieting crowd?

Aren't there times when we have succumbed to greed or lust and taken what is not ours from the arms or pockets of others ­ and then pretended it was right so to do?

Have we looked without passion on the plight of people who differ from us?

Do we choose our own comfort over the very life of others? Turning our heads to avoid looking may condemn another as effectively as if we had turned our wrist and appointed their death with a cursory thumbs down.

This is just a short list. But life is long,
and every day is the day of judgment.
Every day we choose between good and evil.
Some days we even know that is what we are doing.

Though we live and work in the light of day,
we will still be presented with darkness.
And some days we turn, stumble, and fall headlong into the shadows.

We sit down on the cold stone of the seat by the pavement and there is Christ, subdued, head bowed and awaiting judgment.

He is the icon of the innocent.
We are the embodiment of a conflict of interests.
For we are both the judge and the guilty parties.

We must make the judgment.

It is better to keep the peace, and avoid the deaths of our many devices, desires, and illusions, or to save the life of the innocent?

Humanity's answer, a deafening chorus, blares forth on this day.

Crucify him! We cry.

So the cross holds his broken body.

His innocence and our guilt, meet and meld, as blood and water flow.

He is the icon of the innocent. Faithful unto death.
And we, in spite of everything,
are being washed clean by his blood.