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| Prayer Before and Prayer After |
MEDITATION FOR MONDAY
THE PEOPLE DESIRE THE DEATH OF JESUS BY CRUCIFIXION
“Pilate saith to them: ‘What shall I do then with Jesus, that is called Christ?’ They say all: ‘Let Him be crucified!’ The governor said to them: ‘Why what evil hath He done?’ But they cried out the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified?’” (Matt. 27, 22, 23).
First Prelude: Behold Jesus before the tribunal of Pilate, and the multitude clamoring for His death.
Second Prelude: Give me the grace, O my Saviour, for love of Thee to work out my sanctification with energy and determination, and to lead a crucified life.
First Point
THE INTERROGATION OF PILATE
From the question of Pilate, “What shall I do then with Jesus?” (Matt. 27, 23) we infer the baseness, the half-heartedness and indetermination of this godless judge. Having declared Jesus innocent, he knew exactly what he should do, but, nevertheless, he sought counsel with the furious enemies of the One innocently accused. Had he heeded the pressing petitions of his wife, who sent him a messenger, saying: “Have nothing to do with that just Man” (Matt. 27, 19), he would not have committed such a crying injustice. How many are there today who imitate the conduct of Pilate! How many vacillating, weak natures! What half-heartedness even in the actions and omissions of such as have chosen the state of perfection! The commandments of God and of the Church, the counsels and admonitions imparted in sermons, the advice of well-meaning friends, leave them no doubt as to what to do, and still they act contrary to their knowledge. Religious can entertain no doubt as to what God requires of them, since their rules and statutes specify their duty for every minute of the day. Unfortunately there are those who consult neither their conscience nor fervent religious for advice, but who imitate the example of the tepid and the unfaithful. How will such souls justify themselves before God, Who has so clearly marked out their duties?
Let us, therefore, recognize the necessity of surrendering ourselves wholly to God! Let us pray for the grace to be preserved from all indecision, which is so dangerous to progress in perfection. Am I animated by the courage and determination that was mine on the day I entered religion?
Second Point
THE ANSWER OF THE POPULACE
Hear the wild cries of the people, who in their blind impetuosity, without the least deliberation, desire the crucifixion of Jesus. “Away with Him, crucify Him!” (John 19, 15), cries the populace, goaded on by the priests and elders. Jesus must be crucified, the honor of the heavenly Father wills it, our salvation requires it; Jesus Himself has prophesied it; it was foretold by the Prophets and recorded in the Sacred Books. If Jesus must be crucified, is it not meet that the Christian, the scholar and disciple, should also be crucified, that he may bear resemblance to his Divine Teacher? If the most holy and innocent One suffers Himself to be nailed to the cross, may the sinner, laden with guilt, renounce the cross? Must not religious, who profess to be in a particular manner followers of Christ, above all, lead a crucified life? The spiritual Fathers significantly liken the religious vows to the nails of the cross, saying that the spouse of Christ should by them be nailed to the cross in imitation of her Bridegroom. And in truth, is not the desire for earthly goods, so deep-rooted in the human breast, crucified by voluntary poverty? What sacrifices must religious make to keep the vow of chastity in all its splendor, and how must self-love be crucified incessantly, by our submission to the yoke of obedience! Still, how happy are we when in such manner we are crucified to the world and to self! Do I bear in mind that the honor of God, my salvation, and the welfare of my neighbor demand of me a crucified life? How do I fulfill this obligation?
Affections: O Saviour of the world, to what shame and bitterness have my sins reduced Thee! To what anxiety and sorrow! They are the cause of Thy death. Oh, vouchsafe me Thy almighty grace, that my sins may be nailed to the cross with Thee according to the words of the Apostle: “Our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin may be destroyed” (Rom. 6, 6). How long yet, O Jesus, will I contemplate Thy sufferings before my heart, wounded by Thy love, will die to self, to live henceforth for Thee alone, my God and my All!
Resolution: Today I will seize every opportunity to mortify my evil inclinations and especially to repress self-will.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Lord, let me die to myself, that I may live for Thee.”
Prayer: Take, O Lord . . .
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