FAITH Saginaw Winter 2010 : Page 2
2 WWPD: What would Pilate do? we are given daily choices to defend Christ or deny him Matt Treadwell is editor in chief of FAITH Saginaw and co-director for communications for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. T here is a certain person whom we hear about in the Gospel accounts of Christ’s life who captures my imagination each time we encounter him. We heard from him last during the celebration of Novem- ber’s Feast of Christ the King – “Pilate said to Jesus, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’” (Jn 18:33b) We will meet Pontius Pilate again in March and April when we hear once more the reports of Christ’s Passion on Palm Sunday and Good Friday. We will once again hear how Pilate turned Jesus over to be crucified after he found “no guilt in him” (Jn 18:38 and 19:4) and “washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood’” (Mt 27:24). It appears in all accounts that Pilate “wishing to satisfy the crowd” (Mk 15:15) makes a conscious choice to condemn Jesus to death on a cross in order to appease the popular demand of the crowd rather than testify to the truth embod- ied in the Son of God who was standing in his very midst. “ Jesus answered, ‘You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Every- one who belongs to the truth listens to my voice’”(Jn 18:37b). I wonder how often we, too, act as Pilate did, so many cen- turies ago. How often do we encounter the flesh and blood of the King of Kings on Sunday, only to turn our backs to him on Monday through Saturday in order to appease the crowds we Children from cover of first FAITH Saginaw featured on United Way billboard Alex and Ellie Prenzler, who were featured in the first cover story of FAITH Saginaw magazine when they were 8 years old in Jan. 2007 (“Family matters, How these twins bring their parents joy”), could be seen towering above south bound Midland Road near State Street in Saginaw late last year. The advertisement was part of the United Way’s “Live United.” campaign in Bay, Saginaw and Midland counties and was sponsored with the help of Consumer’s Energy. Liturgical Calendar: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Jan.1 | St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church Jan. 2 | The Epiphany of the Lord Jan. 3 | S encounter by going along the popular lies of our culture? Each day, we are presented choices – some small, some large – that require a conscious decision whether to stand with Christ or with the crowd against him. One road leads to paradise the other to death. Both come with a cross. What would Pilate do? What will you do? In this issue of FAITH Saginaw you will meet a sampling of the people who boldly proclaim the truth they have come to know through faith. Mike Eichhorn will tell you why he returned to the Church after he ran away from it; Tina Phillpotts will tell you about the grief and healing she experienced following the death of her first child; the University of Michigan’s John Beilein will tell you how faith fits into Big Ten men’s basketball; and Father Steve Gavit will show you how he helps others learn about God’s love through some of the basic everyday encounters. Be aware of what the crowds are demanding from you and have the courage to proclaim the truth you have learned through FAITH. Don’t do what Pilate did. Don’t follow when you have the opportunity to lead the crowd to heaven. news from the editor SAG0107-front.indd 1
Publication List
