Archives
May 21, 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
EVIL
Our Lady will give us a deeper understanding of evil through the five Mysteries of Sorrow.
"Are you the Son of God? He replied, 'You say that I am.'"
Luke 22:70
SELF will begins with the story of Adam and Eve. Adorned with a brilliant variety of graces and perfection, they gave them all up because of pride. Luckily, evil had no such success with Jesus in the desert. Thrice tempting and three time rebuked, "the devil fled from Him, and angels came to serve Him." Now, in the Garden of Olives, temptation reappears with innumerable fears. Twelve legions of angels are Christ's for the asking, but He is content to let events take their course and his enemies do as they will with Him.
Christ's death was evil. But God turned it into complete success. God help me turn my self will into your will.
II. THE SCOURGING
”Simon, Simon, Satan desires to sift you like wheat.”
Luke 22:31
PETER was a puzzle to the demon. Weak, precipitous Peter, all his courage in his tongue; yet, “you are the rock,” Jesus had said to him, “and upon you, the rock, I will raise up My Church and hell itself shall not withstand it!” Salt on Satan’s wounded pride - this country braggart, who couldn’t catch fish without Jesus’ help, whose faith survived just five steps upon the waters, whom Jesus Himself had often rebuked for “not savoring the things of God”; this the rock that will survive the storms of hell? Satan must do more than kill Christ; he must sift the rock as wheat.
Satan helped Peter to deny Christ. Evil will try to overcome me too. Jesus help me.
III. THE CROWNING
”They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on Him.”
Mark 15:17
SATAN’S temptation ruined Adam and Eve; but pride had first ruined Satan. Placed among the highest angelic spirits, destined to be light-bearer before the throne of God, he nonetheless threw the whole of his mighty will into a single act of disobedience, too calculated for repentance. Perhaps the mystery of the coming Incarnation was revealed to him, and he could not bear to worship a God in lowly human form. If so, hell had its one moment of vengence during the brutal ceremonial in Pilate's praetorium, when men “venerated” an Incarnate God as devils might do.
In Ephesians, Paul advises us to draw our strength from the Lord and from His mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that we may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.
IV. THE WAY OF THE CROSS
”But this man has done nothing criminal.”
Luke 23:41
EVIL had exhausted its malice when Jesus died. Satan led Judas to his betrayal, Peter to his denial; then came the hour of the powers of darkness: false accusations, unjust trials, mockings, scourgings, then the cross. Evil could do no more, we would say. But Jesus knew better. Once He had told His surprised disciples, “Greater works than mine shall you do.” Now, on the way to Calvary, He seems to warn the women who weep over His plight, “Greater sufferings than Mine shall you endure.”
Today, good people are suffering in numbers as never before. Sin is afflicting the human race. Mary, we pray the Rosary as you requested at Fatima. Help me overcome the evil within me.
V. THE CRUCIFIXION
”When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts.”
Like 23:48
FOR three hours, the dying Jesus hung on the cross. How often Jesus must have been tempted in His life. The Gospels tell us of His temptation in the desert. Jesus transcended them by refusing to presume upon His Father’s power. Now borne high on Calvary, Jesus is again challenged: “Come down from the cross!” He refuses! Then Jesus dies, and the centurion cries aloud: “This is God’s Son”; the temple curtain is ripped in two, the dead rise from their graves, heaven’s gates open wide, and Jesus triumphantly leads a repentant thief into paradise.
Jesus’ refusal to come down from the cross was His greatest victory. By accepting my life’s crosses patiently, prayerfully, I transcend evil.