2 - Jesus Receives the Cross

The leaders of that day reached a pragmatic solution to their problem.  They'd had their authority challenged by Jesus, so they needed to get rid of Him.  Of course no-one likes to do that kind of thing, so they justify it to themselves, with a pragmatic argument about the common good.  Nothing to do with them personally of course.  They agree "it's expedient that one man should die for the people".  So we see them here, reassuring one another along these same lines.  And it seems good to them that soon the waves will settle, and it will be back to 'business as usual'.

Meanwhile Jesus, quietly takes up His holy cross for our salvation, and perhaps theirs too.  He cares little for their lame excuses.  And the injustice of their decision is but one more sin, for Him to bear on the way of His suffering.

So when have we reached pragmatic solutions, skipping over the sound truths of the Church which Jesus established to set us on the path to salvation?  Truths like the need for repentance, or truths that clash with preferred lifestyles, or profits, or even simply awkward requirements like going to Church on a Sunday or obligatory holy-day?  Or perhaps the need to learn what the Church really teaches on today's hot topics - so that today's pragmatists don't wrong foot us too?

Let's repent and pray for the grace to live honestly and simply in the light of the truth.