Category: Rosary

33 When they came to the place that is called “The Skull”, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Dividing his garments amongst them, they cast lots. 35 The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
39 One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”
40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
44 It was now about the sixth hour,† and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.‡ 45 The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.
(Luke 23:33-46, WEBBE)

Reflection

Have you ever felt that things were so bad you could never see how they could still turn out right in the end? Have you ever felt that you’ve already given your everything but even that was never enough to accomplish what you wanted to do?

How could the end be so sad when you thought you were just doing the right thing? How could God be silent to your prayers?

Friends, let us remember Jesus when He died on the cross. Who could believe then that things could still turn out fine?

But through His death, Jesus obtained for us our salvation. Through His crucifixion, death has been overcome!

And yet even before this final triumph, Jesus gave everything and surrendered Himself entirely to the Father. He loved to the full and He loved us to the very end.

“Christianity, unlike any other religion in the world, begins with catastrophe and defeat. Sunshine religions and psychological inspirations collapse in calamity and wither in adversity. But the Life of the Founder of Christianity, having begun with the Cross, ends with the empty tomb and victory.”
– Fulton J. Sheen, Life of Christ

“For the little I have understood during these years, I can tell you only that Love is the center of our life. Because we are born from an act of love, we live in order to love and in order to be loved, and we die in order to know the true love of God. The goal of our life is to love and to be always ready to learn how to love others as only God is able to teach you. Love consumes you, but it is beautiful to die consumed precisely as a candle that goes out only after it reaches its goal. Whatever you do will have sense only if you see it in terms of eternal life.” – Chiara Corbella Petrillo, A Witness to Joy

“It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end… because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing… this shadow. Even darkness must pass.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they knelt down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
(Matthew 27:27-29, WEBBE)

Reflection

To be crowned with thorns is not only to feel the physical pain of thorns piercing one’s head. It is to suffer humiliation. It is to be mocked and belittled by those who do not even know who you are or what you’re going through.

Haven’t we felt like that many times in life? As Christians, how many times have you felt that you have already been judged even before you say a single word? How many times have you been considered an outcast by those who are in power?

People like to feel that they are in control, that they have power over others. To do that, they may try to put others down and hurt anyone whoever gets in their way.

In God’s eyes, however, it is not the proud who will be honored. It is the humble man who can please the Lord.

Remember that we are not here to please people. We must do what we think is right and leave all else to God who is merciful and just.

“If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.” – Helen Burns (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë )

“Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.”
(Matthew 27:26, WEBBE)

Reflection

Few of us today could relate to the pain of being physically scourged. But we can all try to imagine just how painful it must have been for Jesus. Tied to a pillar, He was scourged mercilessly and repeatedly. We have no idea how many wounds He had as His flesh suffered from being whipped. We have no idea how much blood He lost even before carrying His cross.

Emotionally and psychologically, have we not felt being scourged also by other people around us? Maybe there were times when we received negative comments and our reputation is damaged, all the while suffering without having anyone to help us. Maybe we were blamed for something we never did. Maybe we were punished for crimes we did not commit.

As we meditate on this mystery today, may we remember that no matter how weak we may feel, we can still overcome our struggles with God’s help.

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”
39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
(Matthew 26:36-39, WEBBE)

Reflection

When was the last time you felt such a deep sorrow you felt your heart would almost break into pieces? When was the last time you felt you could hardly contain your tears?

What makes our sadness even worse is the feeling that we are alone. Just like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, you may have asked some people to watch with you, to just stay where you are. But maybe none of them came, none were able to bear the deepest griefs welling up from within your heart.

As we meditate upon the suffering of Jesus in the Garden, let us remember that He understands where we’re coming from. He knows what it’s like to feel real pain. He knows what it’s like to be left alone by the people you have counted upon most.

Would you decide to stay with Jesus even for a while? Could you spend a moment today in prayer, joining your heart to the One who knows your pain?