to your crucified God that His Precious Blood may not have been shed for you in vain. Never miss the opportunity of doing the Stations of the Cross, especially during Lent.
Chapter LXXVI.
THE SEVEN LAST WORDS ON THE CROSS AND THE DEATH
OF OUR LORD.
[Mat. 27, 46. Mark 15, 34. Luke 23, 34—46. John 19, 26—30.]
I. The First word.
MANY of those who passed that way, and saw Jesus hanging on the Cross (Fig. 91, p. 694), blasphemed Him[1] and said: “Thou that destroyest the Temple of God, and in three days buildest it up again, save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God[2], come down from the Cross.” The chief priests also, and the scribes and the ancients mocked Him, saying: “He saved others[3], Himself He cannot save.” But Jesus prayed[4]: “Father, forgive them, for they know not[5] what they do ” (Luke).
- ↑ Blasphemed Him. Jesus was hanging on the Cross, with His Arms unnaturally extended, His Hands and Feet pierced, His Body covered with wounds and bruises, and His Face pale and streaming with Blood. A burning pain ran through all His limbs, each slightest movement caused Him unspeakable anguish, and each breath that He drew was a labour. His Precious Blood trickled slowly down to the ground, His very life flowing out drop by drop. It was a long, weary death* struggle, and our Blessed Lord retained His consciousness to the very moment when He drew His last breath. Truly it was a sight to move the very stones. “O all ye who pass by the way, attend and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow!” (Lam. I, 12.) Those, however, who did pass by had no compassion, but blasphemed the crucified Son of God, scoffing at His Divinity, and wagging their heads as an expression of their scorn and unholy joy.
- ↑ Son of God. Thus assuming to Thyself divine power.
- ↑ Saved others. They knew, therefore, and could not deny, that Jesus had saved many in a wonderful way, but their only gratitude was scorn: “Himself He cannot save!” said they, and blasphemed Him on account of His good works. How this ingratitude and malicious raillery must have pained the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and increased His sufferings!
- ↑ Prayed. He neither threatened nor upbraided them, but prayed for them.
- ↑ They know not. How grievously they are sinning. Our Divine Saviour pleaded the cause of His tormentors with His heavenly Father, and excused their sin on the score of ignorance. They did not know that they were blaspheming against the Son of God, because they did not believe in Him. “With the bulk of the people it was the blindness of indifference, with the Pharisees and ancients it was the. blindness of selfishness and pride which kept them from believing in Jesus, and led them on step by step, until, literally, they did not know what they did. Their ignorance was, indeed, their own fault, but, such as it was, love used it as a plea for mercy” (Schegg). It was at any rate an excuse for the common people, that they were misguided by their authorized leaders.
