The Condemnation and walk with the cross

In the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery, we contemplate the condemnation of Jesus to death and His walk to Calvary with the cross on His back.

From the Gospel of John (19:16-17) 
Then he (Pilate) handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.

Commentary by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem 
God’s infinite love! Christ, being innocent, was pierced through with nails in His feet and hands, and endured pain. To me, who has not suffered any pain or torment, through participation in His suffering, He freely gives me salvation.

Meditation 1 
At Jesus’ trial, Pilate was also judged, condemned, and shackled. Pilate paid for his previous mistakes; there had already been so many that now, despite being convinced that Jesus was innocent and looking for a way to save Him, he was unable to do so. The accusations against him in Rome were already numerous, and Pilate could not afford another.

The all-powerful Pilate, after all, had lost all his power because of his mistakes in governance, and was now at the mercy of being blackmailed by the religious authorities of Israel. No one is above the truth, morality, and justice. He would have been free to release Jesus if he had not been imprisoned by his own mistakes, which he had already denounced to the emperor. Only truth, justice and love make us truly free.

Meditation 2
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). - If we do not affirm others in our lives, we will not be truly happy. But we cannot affirm others without denying ourselves.

The reason for living is not merely to be happy — that is a petty-bourgeois view of life. Raoul Follereau, regarded as the apostle of the lepers, said in his testament to young people: "The greatest misfortune that can happen to you is not to be useful to anyone." Being useful is the true reason for living. Who am I useful to?

Jesus’ journey to Calvary is an opportunity for us to contemplate the Holy God who, in Christ, gives Himself to humanity in faithfulness until the end. He is the compassionate God who offers His mercy to all.

How far we still have to go! How many “crosses” there are to help carry, at least through prayer! What does it cost me right now to “go all the way”? Do I help carry the crosses of others, or do I always stay locked up in my own pain? It is not only pleasure that makes us selfish; pain does too.

Prayer 
Lord Jesus, 
You bore on Your back 
the weight of our sins and of all humanity, 
we thank You for Your unconditional surrender. 
On the way to Calvary, 
You faced pain, contempt, and loneliness, 
and made every step a lesson in love and fidelity.

Help us, Lord, to carry our crosses with patience and courage, 
always remembering that You walk beside us. 
When difficulties seem unbearable, 
give us the strength to trust in You, 
just as You trusted the Father until the end.

Teach us to see the crosses of others, 
to share the burden of those around us 
and to be instruments of Your compassion and mercy. 
Do not let pain make us selfish or closed in on ourselves, 
but rather, let us be supportive and generous in serving others.

Lord, may Your walk to Calvary 
inspire us to follow You with open hearts, 
ready to deny ourselves 
and embrace the love and truth You have taught us. 
May Your example of self-giving and sacrifice 
guide us each day, so that we can live as true disciples, 
serving and loving others as You have loved us. Amen.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC

The Crowning with Thorns

 In the Third Sorrowful Mystery, we contemplate the crowning of Jesus with a crown of thorns.

From the Gospel of Mark (15:16-19)
Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.                     

Commentary by Saint Ambrose
In Pilate, we see a foreshadowing of all the judges who would condemn those they knew to be innocent. This is a precursor to the most cruel persecutions of the true disciples of Christ throughout the ages. It is absolutely fitting that those who demand the release of Barabbas, a murderer, are the same ones who cry for the condemnation of an innocent man. Such are the laws of injustice: hate innocence and love crime.

Meditation 1
Christ Jesus becomes the object of scorn and insult at the hands of the temple servants. Behold Him, the Almighty God, struck by sharp blows; His lovely face, the joy of the saints, is covered in blood and thorns. A crown of thorns is forced on His head; a purple cloak is draped over His shoulders in mockery; a reed is thrust into His hand; the servants kneel before Him in derision. What an abyss of ignominy! What humiliation and disgrace for Him before whom angels tremble!

The cowardly Roman governor imagines that the hatred of the Jews will be satisfied by the sight of Christ in this pitiful state. He shows Him to the crowd: "Ecce Homo! - Behold the Man!"

Let us contemplate our Divine Master at this moment, plunged into the abyss of suffering and ignominy, and realize that the Father is also presenting Him to us, saying: "Behold My Son, the splendor of My glory, yet wounded for the sins of My people." "My people, what have I done to you? In what have I offended you? Answer me."

Meditation 2
Kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" (Matthew 27:29). - Christ, throughout His life, hid His true identity. When they wanted to make Him king for multiplying the loaves, He fled. He never performed a miracle so to be seen or to gain prestige; on the contrary, He told people not to tell anyone. He never sought power nor was He vain, while we, on the other hand, desire nothing else.

It was only when He found Himself at the point of no return that Jesus recognized and accepted the title of King, although not of this world, for the kings of this world do not ride donkeys as He did, nor are they crucified as He was. They are crowned with crowns of gold, not crown of thorns like Jesus.

Just as Jesus came into the world to serve and not to be served, in our lives, we encounter the great people who have served us: our parents, relatives, teachers, and friends. Likewise, in the history of humanity, those who have served the human cause are the great ones, not those who have served themselves.

A king is not someone who conquers our will and subjugates us; a king is someone who serves us and conquers our hearts. Therefore, he who places himself above the law, truth, justice, and morality is not king. He is king who embodies justice, truth, and love.

Prayer
Lord Jesus,
who accepted the crown of thorns in silence and humility,
we adore and thank You for Your self-giving.
You were humiliated, mocked, and wounded,
but You never ceased loving us,
and Your pain has become a source of salvation for us.

Teach us, Lord, to endure with patience
the injustices and sufferings that may come our way,
just as You endured the thorns pressed upon Your head.
Give us the strength to stand firm in the truth,
even when the world ridicules or rejects us.
May Your crown of thorns always remind us
of the need for humility and service, following Your example.

Help us to be kings, not by titles or power,
but by love and service to others.
May we serve our brothers and sisters as
You have served us, with a heart full of compassion and humility.
May the crown of thorns, a sign of Your passion,
also be for us a sign of fidelity
and total surrender to the Father’s will.

Lord, King of our hearts,
deliver us from vanity and the thirst for power.
Grant us the grace to recognize Your kingship
in every act of love, truth, and justice.
May Your example inspire us
to live according to Your will,
serving, loving, and forgiving,
so that one day we may share 
in Your Kingdom of peace and glory. Amen.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC