Here’s
a reflection on Luke 23: 39-43. It was
written by Bill Loader. He writes, “Sorry about the Australian perspective for
readers from elsewhere—adapt!”
The
Unrepentant Brigand
A
Reflection on Luke 23:39-43
Every
year it's the same. I get crucified, me and my mate over there and Jesus in the
middle. And every year they look up at us from their congregations. My mate's
the good guy because he repented. I'm the bad guy. And they look up at me as if
I'm some kind of criminal, an immoral person.
I'm
not a bad guy. I'm a freedom fighter for my people. Read the stories! That's
what it says. That's what the Greek means. That's why I was crucified; because
I wanted change. That's why we were all crucified. They even accused Jesus of
wanting to be the king of the Jews. See the accusation stuck above his head?
The authorities wanted to get rid of us because we want to get rid of them and
their oppression. They call people like me terrorists, but all rich people in
power call freedom fighters terrorists.
We
all want the same thing: me and my mate and Jesus, too. We want change. My mate
did a bit of a rethink at the last minute and now prefers Jesus' way of going
about it - no violence. I don't. I follow Che Ghevara and Barabbas. It's got
past the stage of negotiating; we now have to take up arms. That's my way.
And
all those people look at us with their pious faces. Preoccupied with their
private morality they look down their noses at me and think I was someone who
broke their private morality rules. I wish they would see that I've probably
got more in common with Jesus than they have, especially when they often don't
seem to care about people being oppressed and downtrodden. Can't they see that
religious people are often the biggest stumbling blocks to change - just look
at Jesus' experience! Still he and I don't see eye to eye on how to get things
changed and I'd never fit in with his lot.
He
promised my mate he would join him in paradise. I'd like to go to Australia one
day, too. Is that really where our vision is fulfilled?
I
can't stick around talking because I'm going to die soon. Pity me, but please
don't moralise about me. I tried. See ya' next year. I doubt if anything will
be different.
~
written by Bill Loader, and posted on William
Loader’s Home Page. http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/brigand.html
