Sometimes it seems to roar in, like 
a rapid’s current, the pull to flare
up at some graceless indiscretion. 
Or, to pick a fight with this pointless 
weapon of self-justification, fueled 
by the notion that someone is always 
right, someone always wrong.

“He answered nothing.” ¹  
Jesus gave no answer to the vicious 
accusers’ charges before his crucifixion. 
Good advice, but more: Timeless, 
healing defense.

Cradled at that moment in what 
must have been a deafening silence 
to dense, goading material thought, 
his life lay as his answer, loud and clear: 
his true defense being his towering 
life lived perfectly as Christ—the divine 
nature of God, divine Love. Here, 
hate and anger are found empty of power, 
beating the air and fizzling out against 
such infinitude.

Even as we face so much less, we bow 
to Christ—our advocate still—who speaks 
for our pure, spiritual goodness. Every moment 
Christ reshapes our lives into an answer 
of God’s profound, transforming love for 
everyone. Then self-justifying outcries 
become voiceless, unheard.

¹ Matthew 27:12