he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, say ing, I am innocent of the blood of this just person see ye to it. Then answered all the people, Then re and said, His blood be on us, JESUS he delivered Him to be Reflections. As CHRIST was brought before the tribunal, so should we bring ourselves before the tribunal of our own consciences, that we may escape the strict judgment of GOD; and judge ourselves that we be not judged of the LORD; (1 Cor. xi. 38;) undergo all adversities patiently, for in them we stand before the tribunal of GOD; for when we are judged, we are chastened of the LORD, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Cor. xi. 39.) O Thou, Who didst stand before Pilate to be judged, may I stand without fear in Thy last judgment. Meditation Who can read, without horror, this sentence of death, which they pronounce against Thee, O true Life of our souls? O the only Hope of sinners, can the human heart be so hard, that men could see Thee thus suffer without being touched with compassion, and that they should demand Thy Death, and cry with one voice, “ Away with Him! Crucify Him !” 0 my SAVIOUR; I will adore and serve Thee; I will seek and love Thee. Enter into my soul and reign there supreme. But pardon me, O my God! for I am more guilty than those people; they wished not for Thee, because they knew Thee not, neither believed in Thee; and I who believe in Thee, worship Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be what Thou art; how many times have I turned away mine eyes, when Thou hast revealed Thyself unto me, to look on that which separates me from Thee. Heal this infirmity, O LORD, that I never lose sight of Thee, but that Thou mayest always be the object of my desire. O Eternal Love! how adorable are Thy dispensations! Those for whom Thou diest, choose the kind of death they shall make Thee die. My sins joined with the clamours of the Jews, and demanded justice against Thee, because Thou art charged with my debts, which could only be thereby satisfied by Thee. O boundless charity! Thou hast suffered the death of the Cross, because our sins demanded it for Thee. Listen, O sinful soul, to the voice of the herald, who proclaimed that JESUS of Nazareth was condemned to die on the Cross between two thieves, as a Malefactor, and false King. Consider how meekly His holy humility received this cruel sentence. Listen to the joyful shouts of His enemies, whose wishes are gratified. Behold the ardour with which they press the execution of this sentence; and in the midst of this tumult behold the silence, the calmness, the meekness of JESUS, Who awaits all, sees all, and suffers all without complaining, or without any mark of impatience. O wondrous clemency of GOD! O inestimable patience of CHRIST! which so great injuries could not move, nor so great pains subdue. What ought to be my confusion, and what can I say before Thee, O LORD, when I see that Thou wert delivered for me to the cruel and unjust will of Thine enemies, and I refuse to give myself up to Thy will. To condemn Thee to death, it is sufficient that Thine enemies ask it; but that I may acquiesce in whatever sorrow comes upon me, it is not sufficient that Thou willest it. Those men were blind and wicked, and Thou gavest Thyself up to their will. Thy will, LORD, is the rule of all right, yet I hesitate to submit to it. O the blindness of my mind! O the hardness of my heart! Change, O LORD, henceforth this disposition of my heart, which is so baneful to myself, and so unworthy towards Thee. I give myself without reserve to Thy will; and for my consolation in all that afflicts me, I wish for no other reason, than that Thou hast appointed it. There would I bind and crucify myself, that Thy will may be done, and not mine, now and at all times, in life and death, in time and eternity. O most merciful LORD! I am charged with sins, and Thou art innocence itself. However, Thou art silent, and I justify myself. Thou sufferest without complaint all the injustice of Thine enemies, and I complain of the least slight. Thou so lovest those who treat Thee so unworthily, as even to die for them, and I pass my life in feelings of anger and hatred as soon as any one renders me not the duties which my pride unreasonably exacts. When, O my Saviour, shall I see my heart changed? When shall I have Thee alway before my eyes, that I may imitate Thee in all things, and wish rather to be like Thee, than to please men? O Saviour! while Pilate thinks to wash off the guilt of Thy Blood with water; I know there is nothing that can wash off the guilt of this his sin but Thy Blood. O do Thou wash my soul in that precious Bath, and I shall be clean. Prayer. All praise, glory, and honour, be to Thee, O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who didst suffer Thyself to be condemned to the ignominious death of the Cross, that Thou mightest redeem us from eternal death. May the remembrance of this Thy exceeding love be imprinted on my heart, and may I love Thee, and reverently contemplate Thy bitter Passion. O give me grace that I may neither be disturbed by the illwill of others towards me, nor rashly judge, or detract from others, or willingly listen to those who do so; but may I, as far as possible, speak well of all men, and bear their defects with holy compassion and charity. Do Thou, O LORD, mercifully grant that I may follow Thee in glory and in shame, through evil report, and good report; and faithfully serve Thee, and seek Thy honour, and choose rather to suffer adversity with Thee, than to enjoy all the things of this life without Thee. Amen. XVI. CHRIST, BEARING HIS CROSS, IS LED AWAY TO BE CRUCIFIED. Gospel Harmony. S. Matt. xxvii. 31; S. Mark xv. 20, 21; S. Luke xxiii. 26-31; S. John xix. 16, 17. And after that they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him, and put His Own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. And as they led Him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, and on him they laid the Cross, that he might bear it after JEAnd there followed Him a great company of people and women, which also bewailed and SUS. ་ lamented Him. But JESUS, Reflections.1 The gracious LORD received the heavy Cross with a placid and cheerful mind, and carried it with an ardent desire for the glory of His FATHER and the salvation of men. He here shows the mirror and perfection of the spiritual life; for whoever aspires to a sincere and holy life must, with CHRIST Himself, 1 See also Williams, pp. 271-281. |