Passage
So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?”
Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”
So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king.* For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover.* Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!”* Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged."
JOHN 18:33-40; 19:1
Today's Meditation
Jesus at the pillar!
They brought Jesus before Pilate, who gave the order to scourge Him. After removing Our Lord's garments, the Roman soldiers tied His hands to a low stone pillar and scourged Him there. The call to give his life for us was accepted by our Lord Jesus. His scourging was a horrifying and brutal act. The Romans used leather ropes with pieces of bone, iron, or steel tied into them to quickly open and remove skin. These were the whips used on Our Lord until his body was bloody and his flesh thorned. A brutal suffering that Our Lord endured for us. Every drop of blood was shed for us. But how many times have we been indifferent to his sufferings? We easily forget everything he did for us and turn our hearts and minds away from his sacrificial love.
Jesus’ sufferings should resonate in our lives and marriage. Our sufferings for sure are not even close to everything our Lord went through. But, we should unite our sufferings to Him and offer ourselves as victims for the purification of our soul.
Today's Questions
How can you be less indifferent to Christ's sufferings?
Today's Challenge
Watch with your spouse the Passion of Christ by Mel Gibson
Don't Forget
Pray together the HOLY ROSARY every day (sorrowful mysteries only)
Pray OVER EACH other every day
Let's Pray
Oh Jesus, give me Your strength when my
weak nature rebels against the distress and
suffering of this life of exile, and enable
me to accept everything with serenity and peace.
With my whole strength I cling to Your merits,
Your sufferings, Your expiation, and Your tears,
so that I may be able to cooperate with You in
the work of salvation. Give me strength to fly from sin,
the only cause of Your agony‚ Your sweat
of blood, and Your death.Destroy in me all that
displeases You and fill my heart with the
fire of your holy love and all Your sufferings.
Clasp me tenderly, firmly, close to You that I
may never leave You alone in Your cruel Passion.
I ask only for a place of rest in Your Heart.
Amen.
St. Padre Pio, Pray for us.
Dedicate to Jesus one HOLY HOUR of Adoration per week
