the crowning with thorns

Our King’s eagerness for suffering has been fully satisfied! They lead my Lord to the courtyard of the palace, and there call together the whole troop (Mark 15:16). The brutal soldiers strip his most pure body. They drape a dirty purple rag about Jesus. A reed, as a scepter, in his right hand.

The crown of thorns, driven in by blows, makes him a mock king . . .. Ave Rex Iudæorum : “Hail, King of the Jews” (Mark 15:18). And with their blows they wound his head. And they strike him . . . and spit on him.

Crowned with thorns and clothed in rags of purple, Jesus is shown to the Jewish crowd: Ecce Homo: “Here is the man!”. And again the chief priests and their attendants raise the cry, saying, “Crucify him, crucify him” (John 19:5-6).

You and I . . ., haven’t we crowned him anew with thorns and struck him and spat on him?

Never again, Jesus, never again . . .. And a firm and practical resolution marks the end of these ten Hail Marys.