Ecce homo

Palm Sunday 24.3.24

(John 18:1 -19:42)

“Pilate said to them: Ecce homo… “Here’s your man”. (John 19:5)

Now it’s 2024

Scene 1:

Do you call that a human being?

That refugee? You think he could have a wash! And those rags he’s wearing! Hardly an Armani fashion advertisement. Ha ha! Don’t you think that funny!? And there’s thousands like this chap, trying to get into the UK by boat; and even trying Australia. They’re only looking for a more comfortable life! I’m glad our government’s got a tough policy to turn them back, or deport them!

Scene 2:

That’s not a human being!

You can tell he’s been on the grog; probably drugs too! And you know he spent six months in jail? But he’s just been to see the diocesan lawyers again. Claims he was abused by Father O’Donnell… 30 years ago! How can he say that? We all know the great work Father did to build up the parish… and to set up the Priests Provident Fund!

That druggie must have false memory syndrome! I’m glad they are going to defend the case strenuously when it goes to court.

Scene 3:

Do you call that a human being?

That sad case lying, under the bridge? We know her. Her name’s Monica. She actually prefers to sleep there. The Vinnies went to a lot of trouble to find her a flat, but she walked out after only three days. You think she’d be grateful, but she complained about the noisy neighbours!! And it’s not as if she doesn’t shout a lot herself when she’s had a few… and talk to herself all the time! No one can help her. She’s mad. Just leave her where she is!

Scene 4:

Voice 1: Julian Assange? Hardly what I’d call a good human being. Didn’t he put huge amounts of information online, exposing state secrets, risking the lives of our secret agents?

Voice 2: Well nooo… he actually took out all the names before he published wikileaks. The US government could never name anyone whom he put at risk.

And the so-called “secrets” he exposed… many of them were actually horrendous war crimes. But none of his judges has ever taken that into account.

And now he faces extradition, and the torture of solitary confinement, possibly for more than 100 years!

Voice 1; but… surely governments know better than we do, what’s best for the people?

Scene 5:

Not Gaza on the news again! Look at those people, fighting over food off the truck. They hardly look human! And it’s hardly news… I saw that video yesterday on facebook. That old lady is the grandmother, and the chap with the broken bucket… that’s her son. Yes, his wife and the other four kids died when their house was bombed. The little girl is the only granddaughter left. Six years old. Yeah, had to have her leg amputated. They said there was no anesthetic, but that’s hard to believe. Probably just anti-Jewish propaganda.

No, don’t turn it off. The sporting news will be on in a minute.

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Ecce homo. Look, there’s your human beings! The ones we crucify.

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