Meditations on the Sorrowful Mysteries - Part 1

Meditations on the Sorrowful Mysteries – Part 1

Submitted by Thomas Stidl

     One does not like to think about these mysteries, but, it is by these mysteries that we are healed and redeemed. While meditating on these mysteries we will meditate on the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. After the Lord celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples, the Lord and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. This became known as the Agony in the Garden. He asked his disciples to remain alert and watch with Him for one hour. Of course, the disciples fell asleep. Jesus went a few steps further and fell to his knees asking the Father to take this cup away from Him, but, He also said, “Not my will but Thy will be done”. He prayed this three times. His prayer was so intense that the Lord sweated his Precious Blood on the ground in the Garden. Angels came from heaven to strengthen him for the task ahead. That shed or sweated blood was enough to save all humanity, but loving humanity so much, God went the extra mile to shed the total amount of blood in his body.

     Then Judas came into the garden and betrayed his Master with a kiss. After Jesus had been arrested, He was brought before the High Priest and interrogated intensively. When questioned if He is the Son of God, Jesus declared that He is the Son of God. The High Priest then accused Him of blasphemy and was kept in prison overnight. In the morning Jesus was taken before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of the province. Pilate questioned Jesus, an after questioning Him, wanted to release Him. So Pilate left it to the people whether he should release Barabbas or Jesus. The crowd chose Barabbas. Then, Pilate determined that Jesus said that He was God’s son and the King Of Israel. Pilate questioned Jesus further, and was more determined to release Jesus. Unfortunately, the High Priest coached the people to shout, “Crucify Him”. Pilate did not want that type of punishment for Jesus. However, the crowd persisted. What an interesting turn of events occurred? It went from, “Hosanna to the Son of David” at the beginning of the week to “Crucify Him” towards the end of the week.

     After being sentenced to death, we now come to the second Sorrowful Mystery which is the Scourging at the Pillar. He was cruelly scourged for our sins. As we all know, Jesus was cruelly scourged to weaken Him so that He could die faster on the cross. His precious blood welled up under the scourging. Isaiah has the best description of the scourging when he writes, “By his stripes we are healed.” Jesus suffered that scourging for all of our sexual impurities. That is something to ponder and all of us are guilty whether we are male or female.

     The third Sorrowful Mystery is the Crowning with Thorns where the Precious Blood of Jesus flowed from His Sacred Head. At the time of His crowning, the soldiers mocked Him, slapped Him, spat upon Him, blasphemed Him, and tortured Him with other cruel punishments. Then the soldiers re dressed Him in his own clothes and led Him to his crucifixion.

     In part 2 we will meditate on the fourth and the fifth Sorrowful Mystery.

     Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe. Deo Gratias. Gloria Tibi Domini. Laus Deo. See you in Paradise.