Archives
April 27, 2010
The Mysteries of Sorrow
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion
PILATE
Our Lady will give us a deeper understanding of Pilate through the five Mysteries of Sorrow.
”Have nothing to do with that righteous man.”
Matt. 27:19
WHILE Jesus was in torment in Gethsemane, Pilate’s wife asleep in her palace had a dream. She saw Jesus and learned that He was altogether sinless; and she saw herself suffering much on account of Him. Claudia Procla spent a restless morning; her anxiety became acute when she heard that Jesus of Nazareth was on trial for His life before her husband. She sent a message to Pilate immediately: “This Man is innocent; let Him be.”
Pilate knew Christ was guiltless, and his wife’s remarkable message proved it. Even so, he crucified Christ. I also have the power to oppose the grace of God. I should pray every day for the grace not to resist grace.
II. THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR
”Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged.”
John 19:1
PILATE was disturbed by the meek majesty of his prisoner. He turned abruptly and disappeared into his palace, then had Jesus brought before him - to remind Christ that He was only a prisoner, nothing more. “What is your crime?” asked Pilate, hiding his interest beneath a mask of official boredom. Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world.” That was indeed His crime in the eyes of His accusers; their kingdom was very much of this world. Pilate knew that Jesus was no criminal; but Pilate was a worldling, like the Pharisees, so he sent Jesus to be scourged.
God so loved the world as to die for it. Pilate so loved the world as to crucify Christ. Do I love the world as Christ did - or as Pilate loved it?
III. THE CROWNING WITH THORNS
”All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.”
John 1:3
ON Christ’s own testimony, Pilate sinned less than Ciaphas and the Pharisees. “The one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” The Pharisees had seen Jesus heal on the Sabbath; saw Him dispossess devils with a word; stood by the tomb as Lazarus came forth; heard Christ preach the kingdom of God, His own Kingdom; then with superb malice they plotted His death. Pilate spoke with Jesus for just a few minutes; saw no miracles; knew nothing of His teaching. But Pilate did know that Jesus was a King; and part of his sin was to allow the Savior’s body coronation.
Pilate sinned through cowardice not through malice. But he sinned. Fortitude to resist temptation is a gift of God, mine for asking.
IV. THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS
”Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent so he opened not his mouth.”
Acts 8:32
GOD is no respecter of position, but we are. When the Magi spoke of the Savior’s birth - “all Jerusalem was troubled” - but only because Herod was troubled. And another Herod had not wanted to kill John the Baptist; he consented only “out of respect for his guests.” The whole purpose of life, thought the Pharisees, was to impress people with a show of piety. Human respect led Peter to deny Christ. And human respect led Pilate to condemn Him to death. When the crowd shouted, “If you free Him, you’re no friend of Caesar.” Pilate’s resistance gave way, and he left Jesus to their mercy.
Human respect - fearing what others will think about our actions - often generates sin, and robs even virtue of its merit. Do I act to please God - or others?
V. THE CRUCIFIXION
”Pilate had an inscription written and put on the cross.”
John 19:19
THE soldiers, followed by the crowd, led Jesus away to Calvary. Pilate was alone in the palace, intensely angry with himself and with the Pharisees. He played the coward; and far worse, he realized that the Jews had used his cowardice to gain their purpose - the death of Jesus. Pilate had retaliated, as cowards will; he had a placard nailed to the top of the cross, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The Pharisees were indignant, but Pilate stood his ground. “What I have written, I have written.”
There was much of the Pharisee in Pilate. He gave in on the great issue, Christ’s death; but he was adamant in the petty wrangle about the placard. Do I fuss over trifles, and neglect things vital to my soul?