MEDITATION FOR WEDNESDAY
FURTHER INCIDENTS OF THE TRIAL BEFORE CAIPHAS
“And when He had said these things, one of the servants standing by, gave Jesus a blow, saying: ‘Answerest Thou the high-priest so?’ Jesus answered him: ‘If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil; but if well, why strikest thou Me?’” (John 18, 22-23).
First Prelude: Behold Jesus with hands bound and eyes cast down, standing before the assembled grand council.
Second Prelude: Penetrate my heart, O Jesus, with a lively sorrow at sight of the ignominy heaped upon Thee, and grant me the grace to imitate Thy wonderful meekness and patience.
First Point
JESUS STRUCK IN THE FACE BY ONE OF THE SERVANTS
Jesus having answered the high-priest calmly, in a manner becoming His Divine Majesty, the ruffianly servant of the high-priest struck the Face of the Most High with an unjust, painful and shameful blow, saying: “Answerest Thou the high-priest so?” Who can measure the insult and affront thus heaped upon our Divine Lord, the King of heaven and earth! He, the Lord of creation, the infinite Wisdom receives a shameful blow—the vilest insult that can be offered a person of His rank—and that before the whole court at the hand of a servant! Oh, the marvelous meekness of our Divine Lord! Though, He could instantaneously have punished the vile wretch by causing the ruthless hand to wither away, He replied meekly: “Why strikest thou Me?” Thus acts a shamefully abused God! Dare we poor creatures presume to complain of the least suffering or insult? Oh, make reparation to your Blessed Lord and Saviour for such brutal treatment, and in union with all the angels and saints praise and extol His meekness and love. Let your heart be moved to profound gratitude when recalling the words of St. Peter: “For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow His steps. Who did not sin, neither was guile in his mouth. Who, when He was reviled, did not revile; when He suffered, He threatened not: but delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly” (I Peter 2, 21-23).
Second Point
JESUS ACCUSED BY FALSE WITNESSES AND PRONOUNCED GUILTY OF DEATH
The unjust judges sought false witnesses to testify against the holiest and most innocent One. Jesus made no answer to their false accusations, although now, too, He could have said to them: “Which one of you can accuse Me of a sin?” How does the holy silence of our Saviour shame our pride, ever ready with fluent tongue to assert our innocence, even in the face of guilt! At the question of the high-priest: “Answerest Thou nothing to the things which these witness against Thee?” Jesus was, likewise, silent. But when Caiphas, with malicious cunning, adjured Him in the name of the Living God, to tell him if He be Christ the Son of the Living God, Jesus answered solemnly: “Thou hast said it. I say to you, hereafter, you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds of Heaven.” Oh, the wisdom of the dispensations of Divine Providence! Caiphas, by this question, effected a solemn declaration before the entire assembly of the divine dignity and sublime mission of Christ. For the judges this declaration was a stern admonition to be ever mindful of the rigorous justice of the judgments of God. And yet, such solemn words from the lips of Jesus, the Eternal Wisdom, made no impression on their hardened hearts, and the entire great council pronounced the unjust sentence of death upon the Man-God.
O my soul, for thy sake Jesus submits to the most shameful death; against thee had been issued the death warrant, “He is guilty of death.” In His infinite mercy the Son of God takes thy place and by His own death restores to thee the hope of life everlasting. What will I do today to make a grateful return of love for the infinite love of my Saviour?
Affections: O Jesus, Son of the Living God, Thou splendor of His glory, and of the same Divine Essence! How shamefully art Thou abused by Thy unworthy creatures! Where are ye, ye blessed spirits, ye angels of heaven? How can ye abide the unjust, cruel treatment thus accorded your King? O Sacred Face of my Divine Saviour! My sins, too, are the cause of the injustice and abuse heaped upon Thee! Give me the grace of true compunction and heartfelt grief, that I may love Thee in return, sincerely repent of my sins, obtain pardon and follow Thee on the way of the cross, with grateful love, humility and patience.
Resolution: I will patiently bear with the shortcomings and weaknesses of others.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Oh, cast me not away from Thee, and Thy holy Spirit take not away from me!”
Prayer: Soul of Christ . . .
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