Today's Reflection
July 3, 2009
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
LONELINESS
Our Lady will give us a deeper understanding of loneliness through the five Mysteries of Sorrow.
”And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him.”
Luke 22:43
LONELINESS - the feeling that one is without comfort or understanding from others - was the lot of Jesus Christ throughout His public life.” He came unto His own, and they received Him not.” Even those who did receive Him often deserve to hear Him say: “O slow to believe! Ye of little faith! Do you not understand yet? Have I been with you so long and you do not know who I am?” Still, when He entered Olivet to pray, He wanted their companionship: He wanted friends who would pray with Him. And when they fell asleep, God sent His Son an angel to refresh Him in His agony.
When I have no one to comfort me in my troubles, I must pray. God’s grace will be my angel.
II. THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR
”Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?”
Luke 4:34
EVIL is not comfortable in the presence of God. Jesus’ enemies were not comfortable in His company. Judas was glad to be out of the supper room. Annas, unsettled by Christ’s calm dignity amidst insults, quickly sent Him away. The Sanhedrin passed Him on to Pilate. Pilate, afraid to condemn a Man so manifestly more innocent than His judges, was much relieved to learn that Jesus was a Galilean: He ordered Him off to Herod. Herod soon tired of Him, and sent Him back. Then the bitter climax - the crowds yelled for His death, preferring the company of Barabbas.
Deserted by the friends He loved, shunned by His enemies (whom He also loved), Jesus bore His loneliness in silent patience. Would I?
III. THE CROWNING WITH THORNS
”Love is patient, love is kind.”
1 Cor. 13:4
LOVE was the whole reason for the Incarnation. Christ’s life was one of loving service - healing, teaching, preaching to the poor. He called Himself the Good Shepherd, who would die for His sheep. He would have gathered His enemies to His heart as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. He is as close to His friends as a vine to its branches. When He was about to leave the world, His love found a way to remain - hidden under the appearances of bread and wine. But on Good Friday, when Pilate pointed Him out to the crowd, they forgot His goodness. The sheep demanded the death of the Good Shepherd.
Alone, forsaken, blasphemed, Jesus kept loving. If His people would kill Him, He would die for them. A lesson for me about how God defines love.
IV. THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS
”Large numbers of people followed Him, and of women too, who mourned and lamented for Him.”
Luke 23:27
NOBLE-HEARTED women are found on nearly every page of the Gospel. There is of course, the incomparable Mother of God, Mary. There is the old Elizabeth, the ancient Anna, and the young Magdalen, “who loved greatly”; the Canaanite woman who begged like a dog for Christ’s help; the woman whose touch drew healing power from Jesus; the widow whose farthing enriched God’s house “above gold and precious stone”; and Pilate’s wife, Our Lord’s only defender in His Passion. And there were the women who made the Way of the Cross with Him to comfort His heart with their tears.
To console others, to relieve their loneliness with our sympathy, is a great virtue. “Blessed are they that mourn.”
V. THE CRUCIFIXION
”My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
Matt. 27:46
IT was inevitable that our Lord’s friends should not understand Him. He was a perfect Man among proud, unspiritual men; and He was God, whose ways are not ours. Even His Mother didn’t always understand His words and actions and had to puzzle over them in her heart. His heavenly Father alone understood Jesus Christ completely. Our Lord’s chief delight was to spend His nights in prayerful intimacy with His Father, away from the shallow squabbling of His disciples. On Calvary, however, Jesus felt abandoned.
If Jesus could feel abandoned by His Father, so can I. And if Jesus could continue to pray, so can I.