Archives
May 14, 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
SUFFERING
Our Lady will give us a deeper understanding of suffering through the five Mysteries of Sorrow.
”Father, if you are willing take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42
CHRIST knew he would suffer. He spent His life speaking the truth. Those in authority did not like Him. Mary carried many fears for her Son in her heart. John hailed Him as the meek Lamb of God. Jesus spoke often of His death; invited others to do what He was about to do - “take up the Cross;” then deliberately went up to Jerusalem to His earthly doom. But when that long-awaited suffering was only a sunrise away, Jesus Christ fell upon His Face and bled at the thought of pain and asked that, if it were possible, the chalice be withheld.
To tremble at pain is Christlike. Suffering is not a good thing that merely appears evil. It is an evil which human nature shrinks from - and grace can sanctify.
II. THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR
”I shall have him flogged.”
Luke 23:16
CHRIST shrank from pain, but did not refuse it. Late morning saw Jesus flung against a praetorium pillar, while the hired men of Rome wore themselves out whipping and lashing Him near to death. Every thump of the iron-weighted cords tore fresh red rents in His Flesh. Jesus, who the night before had turned wine to Blood, now shed that Blood like wine poured out. His Body is the chalice of His spilt-out Blood, and the cup He no longer asks His Father to remove.
God knows how desperate we feel when we ask Him to relieve our sufferings because God was with Jesus in all Jesus’ pain. To accept pain as Jesus did is to sanctify it - and myself.
III. THE CROWNING WITH THORNS
”And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head.”
John 19:2
JESUS has been officially sentenced to death. However, the soldiers were in no hurry to finish off their prey. To the twisted wits of the soldiers, the praetorium courtyard suggested a mock court, and Jesus a mock King. Injury was added to insult when they clamped the King’s head in a royal crown, studded with thorns.
Jesus, the innocence of God, had no safeguard against pain.
IV. THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS
”Simon, a Cyrenian, carried the cross behind Jesus.”
Luke 23:26
BY God’s command, the Mosaic Law summoned every Jewish man to the Holy City for the Passover. Simon, from faraway Cyrene, was only one poor, tired rustic among the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims dutifully thronging to Jerusalem. By chance he crossed the path of the soldiers leading Jesus to Calvary; by chance, Jesus fell to His knees just then; by chance, the guards caught sight of Simon and bullied him into service. Simon was taking part in the solemn ritual for which he had come - the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb.
It is characteristic of the cross that it comes to us “by chance.” Remember, when we suffer, Jesus is with us in our pain helping us carry our cross.
V. THE CRUCIFIXION
”One of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine; and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink.”
Matt. 27:48
THE bite of the whip kept Jesus conscious until He reached Calvary. There two soldiers tore away His clothing, which the drying blood had glued to His lashed Body. The morning’s endless scourging was relived in a single moment. Jesus reeled from the sudden torture. A coarse narcotic of wine, myrrh, and incense was put quickly to His lips - not to relieve His thirst, but to numb His senses. Jesus did not take the drug.
The gate of heaven has a cross for a key. It is Jesus who forged the key.