Passion Week, Saturday. The blasphemy of the Jews: the patience of Jesus

Passion Week.—Saturday.

The Blasphemy of the Jews:—the Patience of Jesus.

They that passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads: saying: Vah, Thou that destroyest the Temple of God, and in three days dost rebuild it, save Thy own Self: if Thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross: In like manner also the chief priests with the scribes and ancients mocking, said: He saved others, Himself He cannot save: if He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the Cross, and we will believe Him.—S. MATT. XXVII.

I. PRELUDE.

If, in spirit, we transport ourselves to Calvary, we shall see there a number of impious men, who are uttering blasphemies against Jesus.

II. PRELUDE.

Give us grace, O Crucified Saviour, to resemble Thee in that unalterable patience, of which Thou dost give us so perfect an example on the Cross.

I. POINT.

Jesus suffered with patience the injuries done to Him by the chief-priests and scribes, and ancients of the people.

When a malefactor is delivered up to be treated according to the rigour of the law, justice being satisfied, pity is felt for him:—but the hatred of the enemies of Jesus was insatiable, and seemed to increase at the sight of the torments He had to endure. These ruthless men were not ashamed to come to Calvary on purpose to insult Jesus in His agony and helplessness on the Cross. The chief-priests, forgetting the dignity of their office, and the respect they owed to themselves, mingled with the scoffing crowd, and vented their rage still further against its Victim; tauntingly saying: If thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross; and we will believe Thee. Jesus however held His peace—He, Who could have at once destroyed these blasphemers and precipitated them into hell.—But He is silent; His forbearance and patience is inexhaustible; His Divine meekness disarms the wrath of God the father. In the Cross is nothing but mercy towards sinners; our Saviour will complete His Sacrifice perfectly, and become the Author of Salvation, so that all may be forgiven through the power of His Suffering. Let the thought of His patient forbearance under insult, draw forth our admiration, love and constancy.

II. POINT.

We should imitate the patience we see exemplified in Jesus Christ.

Jesus wishes indeed to fill us with sentiments of love and gratitude, which are most justly due to Him; but above all, He desires that, with ardent zeal, we should endeavour to make our hearts conformable to His own. Let us beg of Him to produce in us therefore His divine patience; that precious virtue which is the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the practice of which fills the soul with suavity. Jesus accepted the outrages committed against Him, as a part of the punishment that He would suffer in our stead; and He accepted them with entire resignation. If we have so much difficulty in bearing the slightest affront—the least word of contradiction,—if we cannot endure the smallest humiliation, or suffering, it is because we are not sufficiently convinced of the necessity there is to imitate Jesus; and that, together with Him, we may make satisfaction for our sins, to the divine justice:—it is because we do not love our Saviour as we ought: for the flame of true love is fed by acts of self-sacrifice; it increases through suffering and is kept pure by means of affliction. The more we reflect on the calm endurance of Jesus, the better we understand the value of each act of patience which we practise; and we shall thus learn by degrees to suffer like Jesus, to be patient like Jesus, and to love as Jesus loved—sacrificing ourselves.

COLLOQUY.

Adorable Saviour, how far I am from resembling Thee: have pity on my weakness. I embrace the foot of the Cross, from which Thou dost instruct me so forcibly; I will remain beneath It, so that the abundant graces which flow from It may be shed forth upon my soul, and communicate to me strength to suffer for Thy Sake.

RESOLUTION.

To bear with patience any words or actions on the part of others, which may wound my self-love.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.

All they that saw Me, have laughed Me to scorn.

PRAYER.

O Jesus, living in Mary.