It was not one man who decided, planned, arrested, tried, judged, sentenced, and executed Jesus on the crucifix. As we hear the Passion narrative, we realize many people involved themselves in condemning and executing Jesus. But we also notice many people denied or ignored Jesus or simply watched him on the way to Calvary. It was not one man’s sin that crucified Christ but many men’s sins. Can I say I am free from the guilt of crucifying Jesus for I was not there? If I had nothing to do with the crucifixion of Christ, I would not be forgiven of my sins from his sacrifice, either.

We are under the culture of death. Who created this? It was not one man’s idea, plan, or decision that generated this toxic environment. Some might want to deny this reality. But millions of unborn babies are murdered every year. Thousands of vulnerable people’s lives are terminated in euthanasia. All these killings are committed with excuses and justifications with the help and support of our laws. Remind yourself that Jesus was also executed on the crucifix through a legitimate process as the gospels show. As many people contributed to the killing of Jesus on the cross, many of us in our generation contribute to the murders of innocent lives.

Am I free from the guilt of the culture of death? Our elected officials with our tax money legalized this culture of death. Many of us are not Judas, Jewish leaders, or those soldiers who nailed Christ. However, I find myself in Peter and Pilate. It is unbelievable that God’s chosen race of Israel murdered God’s only begotten Son. Much the same here we are. It is inconceivable that Christ’s chosen flock of Christian countries spearheaded in creating the culture of death.

Let us be courageous to be like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who dared to bring down the body of Christ and placed him in the tomb. Had there not been these courageous men, how could Mary Magdalene have heard the news of Christ’s resurrection at his tomb? Christ was patient and merciful to accept the tomb that sinners provided with when they gathered courage.

Christ bore all our sins. We all condemned him to death. But only when we admit our sins, his death may lift our sins away.