They brought him to the place of Golgotha (which is translated Place of the Skull). They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it. Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take. Mark 15:22-24

We know in God's scheme of things, it was no coincidence that the torture of Terri Schiavo took place last year during the time leading up to Holy Week and that her death occurred within the Octave of Easter.



It was Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, President of Human Life International, who last year wrote a compelling parallel between Terri's death and the crucifixion of Christ. It shouldn't surprise us that this parallel continues as Michael Schiavo, the husband who promised before God to love and cherish Terri all the days of her life, stubbornly clings to his evil deeds.

We know that the mockery of Jesus continued while our Lord hung upon the cross, and even afterwards as His dead body was slashed with a sword until blood and water ran out. To further insult Mary and Jesus' friends, the authorities even posted guards at Jesus' tomb.

Michael Schiavo continues to mock Terri and her family by secretly cremating her body, inscribing two “death” dates on her tombstone, starting a "death with dignity" campaign, and now attacking her family with his book, Terri: The Truth. Arrogantly, Schiavo thinks he is on a roll and will very likely continue to seek ways to discredit Terri and her family and pour salt in the wounds of their grieving hearts.

This all parallels the mockery of the soldiers who crucified Jesus and then continued the attack upon Him and His followers. The man who won Jesus' garment is like Schiavo winning money on his book, and winning approval from the death-trade advocates who lusted for .the starvation/dehydration death of Terri, his disabled wife.

But we all know that the crucifixion story concludes with the Resurrection. O Death where is thy sting? God is raised in three days and death is conquered!

Through our prayers and unwavering trust in God’s grace and mercy, we know there will be “centurions” in Terri's story who will come to realize that we have no right to decide who should live and who should die. They will know that it is incumbent upon a civilized people to lovingly reach out to the disabled with resources that ends their suffering, not ends their lives.

There may come a time that Michael Schiavo will slip up; his arrogance will someday do him in. Right now he may think he's invincible. After all, even the Supreme Court beckoned to his wishes! But his over-confidence will lead him to say, not only something stupid like Terri is "praising" him or that his book was written to "settle the score" with the Schindlers, but it may come to pass that he will inadvertently admit something that will force her medical case to be honestly re-examined, or at the least that vital information was withheld.

Yet despite Schiavo’s behavior, we must all look for the face of Jesus and get beyond these painful circumstances.

We must take our cues from Jesus and trust the Father in all of this. We have to speak the Truth and defend Life, but try not to let our blood pressure boil over. God is the arbiter of justice and we can be confident that He will judge. And judge fairly!

Judgment Day is a reality that everyone must face. Even Michael Schiavo. May he have the grace, and good sense, to repent. May God have mercy on us all!