Today is a good day to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries slowly, and in contemplating each of the mysteries we are drawn towards the suffering saviour who took upon Himself our iniquities. Here are a few thoughts of mine that arose from praying the sorrowful mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary. The Agony in the Garden - the mental suffering of Jesus was enormous - Father take this cup of suffering from me. I have often wondered was this suffering in the garden greater than the physical sufferings Jesus endured in His passion? Let us pray for those poor souls in our world who suffer from mental illness, depression, anxieties, - we look around at so many sad faces in our world which is awash with mental suffering and so many on anti-depressant drugs. May God Bless all who suffer mentally and bring them into His Sacred Heart. May they turn to the suffering Lord in the Garden for consolation. The Scourging at the pillar. His back became ribboned flesh for he bore our iniquities and took upon Himself the sufferings that we deserve. He took upon His flesh the sins of our flesh; gluttony, lust, sloth, sins that arise from the flesh of man so let us mortify our flesh in honour of His painful flagellation. Isaiah tells us that 'By His wounds we are healed' by his scourging we are healed. The Crowning with thorns: His head was pierced by the sharpest of thorns from the jujube tree; they put a scarlet robe around Him and mocked Him. There stood the King of the Universe subject to insult and spittle but silent as a Lamb. Truly a King of Peace. Thorns symbolise the fall of man, a consequence of sin entering the world. God cursed the ground, declaring that it would forever produce thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18). He took upon Himself the curse of sin. And he will one day return as King of Kings and he is crowned with righteousness and glory. The Carrying of the Cross: Upon Him was laid the sins of humanity and he carried the burden of the wood of the tree for each painful step. It is fitting since sin entered the world through a tree that we should be redeemed by the wood of the cross. Our progenitors disobeyed God by eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Not all knowledge is good - knowing sin is not God's plan so to undo the mystery of evil, Christ took upon Himself the burden of our iniquities and upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace. The Crucifixion: Christ is raised above all humanity to draw all men to Himself - He was pierced for our transgressions by iron nails driven into his hands and feet. His side was pierced by a soldier's lance and blood and water flowed for the salvation of humanity. Sin is in the blood and sin was expiated by His blood. There on Golgotha a man hung dying on the tree of Life and so that we can pray 'He took my place'. By his death He opened the doors of paradise that we might have access again to the tree of life for all eternity; 'Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates' (Rev 22:14) God Bless You and All Whom You Love on this Good Friday.
A powerful earthquake 7.5 just hit Mexico! I wonder how many big signs are about to happen in the coming week? Prayers for all those near the earthquake!
It hit me while listening to the powerful contemplations written by a very holy priest who was formally assigned to my parish at the Living Stations of the Cross we do each year that today is in some ways a beautiful Marian day. How wonderful and mysterious is it that Our Lord in the midst of his great suffering on the Criss looked at each and every one of us for all eternity and gave us His Most Holy and Blessed Mother. She is connected to us through His Sacred Cross. It is sometimes just so incredible to comprehend. These three days are just so powerful and I can't help but think how blessed we are as Catholics to have the sum and total of our faith remembered and celebrated in these three days. It truly is a Good Friday. Thank You Jesus. By your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed The World. Peace to all. Back to Church in an hour to venerate the Cross and receive the Bread of a Life.
