Holy Rosary Month - Day 22: Sorrowful Mysteries 3

Holy Rosary Month - Day 22: Sorrowful Mysteries 3

The Crowning with the thorns: In the third sorrowful mystery we meditate on the crowning with the thorns. It is more painful than the scourging at the pillar; the clouds are getting darker and darker. Most times, we know, mental suffering is more painful than the physical suffering. Prophet Simon said to Mary, “Sorrow, like a sharp edged sword, will break your heart.” (Lk 2:35) The psalmist prays, “My heart shudders, my strength forsake me; the very light of my eyes has failed. Friends and companions shun my pain; my neighbors stand far off;” (Ps 38:11, 12) “even the friend who had my trust, who shared my table, has scorned me.” (Ps 41:10) Yes, the mental agony is more painful than the physical pain. It is not the physical pain while crowing with thorn branches but their mocking that was more aching to Jesus. “They stripped of f his clothes and put a scarlet robe on him. Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand; then they knelt before him and mocked him, ‘Long live, the King of the Jews!’” (Mt 27:26-29) After the miracle of feeding the five thousand people, they did want him to be their king (Jn 6:15) for they thought he could be the Messiah who would deliver them from their Roman political bondage. But now, it is not because that they wanted him to be their king rather to ridicule and make fun of him. Is it because that Jesus himself wanted to undergo the anguish and torture in its fullest sense? I do hope so, for physical suffering becomes unbearable once you are mentally weak too. Perhaps, this also could be for the fulfillment of all righteousness. The psalmist says, “Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth.” (Is 53:7) Here, this silent one is the one who created the whole world and everything in it with his words. The psalmist again says, “Let them all praise the Lord’s name, for the Lord commanded and they were created.” The all powerful one becomes the weakest of all even at the moment of his humiliated suffering. 

                   

 Prayer: Oh Mary, mother of sorrows! We come to you today for your special maternal help and protection. Mary, our mother and guide; help us to understand the meaning and the importance of suffering even at the moment of utter humiliation in our lives. In this holy mystery we specially pray for all those who are belittled and humiliated by others. Let them be given the gift of real healing of forgiving their enemies. Let Mother Mary, who prayed for the coming of the Holy Spirit over the disciples who betrayed and left alone his beloved son, be with them and intercede for them. Amen! 

Greetings:  Wish you all a nice and blissful Marian Wednesday!