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| Prayer Before and Prayer After |
MMEDITATION FOR TUESDAY
PILATE AGAIN DECLARES JESUS INNOCENT
“And he said to them the third time: ‘Why, what evil hath this man done? I find not cause of death in Him. I will chastise Him therefore and let Him go’” (Luke 23, 22).
First Prelude: Behold our beloved Saviour standing in silence before the unjust judge, who declares Him innocent, nevertheless orders Him to be scourged.
Second Prelude: Grant me the grace, O my Jesus, with love and patience to overcome the contradictions that oppose my good resolutions.
First Point
THE QUESTION OF PILATE: “WHAT EVIL HATH HE DONE?”
To Pilate’s question: “What evil hath He done?” the enemies of our Lord could make no answer, because He had done no harm, on the contrary, had lavished upon them countless favors. Though they refused to recognize Him as the Son of God, as the promised Messiah, they must at least have recognized Him as a just, a perfect man, a saint, their greatest benefactor. They should have testified to the fact that He had healed their sick and infirm, restored speech to the dumb, cleansed their lepers, raised the dead to life, consoled and strengthened all through His holy doctrine, and nourished them with a miraculous bread. In profoundest sympathy, let us penetrate the mystery of the innocence of Jesus, and hear Him address the plaintive words to the multitude: “O my people, what have I done unto thee, or in what have I offended thee? Answer Me!”
Jesus was innocent. He was Innocence and Sanctity itself; we, however, have done much evil as we daily confess in all justice. The heavenly Father burdened His Son with the sins of the whole world. Such is the divine secret which the prophets had announced, the mystery which the world will not comprehend. We, however, who understand it, will deem it an honor in union with our dear Saviour to bear an undeserved insult, like Him, to be condemned innocently. Am I always ready when Jesus would rivet me closer to Himself by permitting trials to come upon me, to purify my soul and to advance me in perfection?
Second Point
THE WORDS OF PILATE: “I WILL CHASTISE HIM, THEREFORE, AND LET HIM GO”
Not one actual misdeed had been laid to Christ’s charge, only doubtful accusations had been advanced without reason or proof. On what ground should He be scourged? Consider how the governor’s fear of the people made him contradict his better convictions. For the third time he solemnly declared Jesus innocent and nevertheless condemned Him to be cruelly and shamefully scourged. Pilate wished to spare Jesus but without displeasing the Jews, and hoped to arouse their sympathy by the cruel scourging. What danger lurks in the attempt to please both God and the world! Although Pilate esteemed Jesus and thought highly of Him, he had not the courage to free Him, but submitted Him to the most cruel punishment. Human respect made him a persecutor of our Lord. How many resemble Pilate! They serve God so long as the world favors them; so long as such service would seem to flatter self-love, self-will and vanity. If God, on the contrary, deprives them of consolation in prayer, they neglect it; if the world makes demands on them, they turn from God, or at least divide their hearts between Him and creatures. Like Pilate, they entangle themselves in the greatest contradictions and requite with black ingratitude the goodness of their Saviour, Who constantly overwhelms them with countless graces and benefits.
How is my love of Jesus constituted? Am I ready to renounce all, to sacrifice all rather than offend Him?
Affections: O my Jesus, Thou hadst done only good, and overwhelmed us all with benefits, and yet Thou must immolate Thyself for love of us. What gratitude do I owe Thee for such love! And yet, with what coldness and indifference have I requited Thy love. Alas, I have done little good, but much evil. I deserve the punishment that Thou, O my Saviour, so unjustly didst take upon Thyself. In profound humility and confusion, I confess that I have well deserved all the sufferings Thou sendest me and far greater ones. I will deem myself happy in being permitted to suffer patiently little things for love of Thee. Strengthen me by Thy saving grace.
Resolution: I will be humbly silent in reverses that I may be vouchsafed the grace to overcome the obstacles to my perfection.
Spiritual Bouquet: “He threatened not when suffering, but gave Himself up to him who condemned Him unjustly.”
Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary. . .
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