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Jesus. accompaniment and compassion. The focus of the
Christian mission is others’ well-being, i.e., universal salvation.
In Romans 5: 6&8, "For while we were still weak, at the right
time Christ died for the ungodly." "But God proves his love
for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us."
Just like the experience of Barabbas, we were set free because
Christ became our substitute. He became a curse for us, that
we might be released from the curse of the Law that demanded
death for sin. Galatians 3:13 says “Christ redeemed us from the
curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree””. Paul wrote to the
Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him
to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become
the righteousness of God”. Jesus became scape- goat, Passover
lamb, and substitute for us. The choice of Barabbas was the
given opportunity to reveal the mystery of Jesus ‘mission-to be
a sacrificial substitute for other’s salvation. It was self-emptying
and voluntary submission for the betterment of others. The
choice of Barabbas and the substitution of Jesus Christ was one
of the best examples of the mission of Jesus Christ.

The unholy alliance between politics and religion will
result in cold-blooded omissions and divisions. It will create
victims and sufferers. But it is not the end of everything. There
is a hope, chance and substitution for the sake of our well-
being. Jesus Christ is our substitute-the liberator, emancipator,
constant accompanier for the transformation. Not only for
us, but for everyone, everywhere! This is the mission of God
(“Missio-Dei”). This is the mission in Christ (“Missio en
Christo”). Let’s experience the abundant life. We are invited to
participate in Jesus’ movement. It is to identify people those
who are in a position of destitution, deprivation, isolation
and discrimination. Furthermore, it is to declare our constant
solidarity and accompaniment with the people of God those
who are in a most vulnerable situation. This is the relevance of
the cross and resurrection. There was a Barabbas who benefited
out of Jesus’ mission. Today, we are here to be transformed out

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Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People