“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.
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"