The First Reading takes up the theme of the suffering of the servant of God at the hands of the ungodless - although, as we know, the death of Jesus was to be brought about by those who were convinced of his blasphemy against God and who believed their actions to be godly.

 

Unfortunately, this is far more common that we would perhaps like it to be - some of the worst cruelties have been inflicted by people who have firmly believed that they were acting in accordance with the will of God.

 

However, the reading highlights a more sinister side to humanity - its tendency to react to those whose lives make those of the rest of us seem less than perfect. As Shakespeare put it in his play “Othello”:

 

             “He hath a daily beauty in his life
            That makes me ugly”

 

There is an instinct to try to find the flaws - to try to find ways to attack the integrity of the virtuous person somehow seeing this as a way to justify our own failings.

 

The modern press is particularly anxious to do this - especially in matters concerning Christianity. A priest or other person closely identified with the Church can be treated even more ruthlessly if the remotest hint of wrong-doing is uncovered. Justice requires that wrong actions are dealt with - but justice also requires even-handedness. Still worse, is the use of the wrong-doing of the few to tarnish the reputation of the many as those who seek to find the flaws in the Church - and in all good people - relish the details they have found and gloat over their success in “uncovering” hidden sin.

 

As people are “crucified” by the media, we can recall this Reading, and whilst, where appropriate, condemning the sin, refuse to be part of the witch-hunt which seeks wantonly to destroy people’s lives and reputations.