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testimonies about the crucified Jesus are challenging the Empires
of the State and the Religion. The very false accusations for which
they crucified Jesus are exposed and countermanded. In the
words of the Centurion, Jesus is acquitted and simultaneously the
State and the Religious Empires are convicted and condemned
for crucifying Jesus. The Centurion, in spite of being the subject
of the State Empire, was able to openly acknowledge that Jesus
was innocent and was truly the Son of God.

Encountering the cross experience in Lent
In the Indian context we are witnessing growing
Hinduthva religious fundamentalism, intolerance and
corruption. Caste, Class, and gender discrimination is rampant.
Often the Christians as church and individuals are caught up
in situations where they have to encounter the Empires of the
State and the Religion and succumb to the lure of aligning with
the Empires of State and Religion including the Church, within
and without for fear or want or greed at the expense of faith
in Jesus. Climbing up the social ladder and self-gratification in
maintaining class, caste and gender discrimination are part of
the Empire politics that oppress the vulnerable.

A Christian needs to undergo the cross experience
along with Jesus to resist and overcome these lures and powers.
Encountering and experiencing the cross led the early church
to publicly profess faith in Jesus and embrace martyrdom.
The Centurion’s re-imaging experience helps us to re-image
ourselves to profess our faith publicly in socio-cultural, political
and economic spheres of our life. This is the cross a Christian
must bear for the message of Cross is the power of God to those
who are being saved (I Cor.1:18).
It requires the close proximity to Jesus on the cross. It
also calls for sincere commitment to faith, vocation, profession,
business or duty in the family, church and society. Such witness
sustains faith and sheds the gospel light. Constant participation
in the sufferings and death of Jesus is intrinsically related to
acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God. These two dimensions
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Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People