Neo-catechumenate Teachings:
The Parable of Barabbas

The following teaching was heard two years in a row, at a Neo-catechumenate introductory 'catechesis', presented by a couple who are N-C catechists, the first year by the wife and the following year by the husband. The person attending was livid about such harmful teachings and, because no questions were allowed during a session, asked a fervent N-C member about it and was accused of being wrong about the testimony. The next year's sessions featured the same beliefs taught in the same manner, as indicated in this account taken from the inquirer's notes.

We are called by Jesus Christ and God to the Christian way of life, to the cross. It's not the way of the white horse and the sword. No. On this way, the Christian way, we carry the sins of the other.

During the time of the Roman occupation, the Jews were treated very badly by the Romans. The Romans treated the Jews unjustly. Both Barabbas and Jesus were against the injustices that the Jews suffered, but their ways were very different. Barabbas was a brigand and a freedom fighter. He knew the Romans infringed on the people's rights. He killed a Roman soldier in a scuffle. That's how he dealt with injustice. How did Jesus deal with injustice? Who are you like? Do you choose to be like Jesus or like Barabbas? Jesus? You'd choose to be like Jesus? Wait...

Say a wife suffers. Her husband spends all his money and time on drugs and drink. When he's home, he beats her. He doesn't care for his children. He's negligent about his family. How does the wife respond? She's treated very badly. Does she respond in fighting? No. She responds in silence. When he seeks affection in bed, does she turn her back so she can hurt him? Does she turn away to teach him a lesson and hurt him back? Does she provoke him in subtle ways? --- or --- does she choose JESUS? If she acted on the injustice she'd received, she'd be just like Barabbas. No ... she chooses Jesus so ... she carries her husband's sin. We may think, "How can I not pay him back?" None of us can do it other than through our Lord Jesus Christ. With Christ, it is a whole different ballgame. There is universal love behind it. It is different than any love we know.

If we can win against injustice, like Barabbas tried to do, by our own actions, then we don't need Christ. We can do Barabbas' love if we can sort things out on our own. All is fulfilled in the cross. We can't carry the sin of someone ... this is the Good News. We recognize that we are able to turn to God.

Hearing this message the following year, and knowing that no questions are permitted during sessions, the inquirer interrupted and blurted out:

"Are you saying then, that Christ WANTS this woman to suffer with her husband's behaviour?"

The catechist clutched the tall standing crucifix by his side, shook it for emphasis and said loudly and firmly:

"OF COURSE SHE SHOULD. Of course she should."