MEDITATIO

Some people are puzzled by the marks of the Passion on Christ’s body and ask themselves: “Who is this king of glory?” (Ps 24[23],8). Answer them that it is the Lord strong and mighty in all he has done and will continue to do… Show them the beauty of the robe worn by Christ’s suffering body, bejewelled by the Passion and transfigured by the brilliance of the divinity, that robe of glory that offers the object that is the most beautiful and most worthy of love in the world… Does the fact that he humbled himself for your sake make him small? Does the fact that he, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his flock (Jn 10,1), who came to seek out the lost sheep and, when he had found it, set it on those shoulders of his that had borne the cross for her, and who, when he had brought her back, placed her among the faithful sheep who had remained in the fold (Lk 15,4f.): does this make him contemptible? Do you think the less of him because he girded himself with a linen towel to wash his disciples’ feet, thus showing them that the surest way of being exalted is to humble oneself? (Jn 13,4; Mt 23,12). For, by turning his soul to the earth, he humbles himself so as to raise up with him all those who are bowed down beneath the weight of sin. Are you going to blame him for having eaten with publicans and sinners for their salvation? (Mt 9,10). He knew weariness, hunger, thirst, anguish and tears in accordance with the law of our human nature. Yet, as God, what did he not do?… We need a God made man, who has taken mortal nature, if we are to live. We have shared in his purifying death; through his death he enables us to share his resurrection; through his resurrection he enables us to share his glory.
maronite readings – rosary,team

The Lord was handed over to their savage wishes, and in mockery of his kingly state, ordered to be the bearer of His own instrument of death, that what Isaiah the prophet foresaw might be fulfilled: “Upon his shoulder dominion rests” (Is 9,5). When, therefore, the Lord carried the wood of the cross, which would be turned into the sceptre of power for him, it was indeed a great mockery in the eyes of the wicked, but to the faithful a great mystery was set forth, seeing that he, the glorious vanquisher of the Devil, and mighty adversary of the powers that stood against him, was carrying for the people’s worship the trophy of his triumph, and on the shoulders of his unconquered patience bore into every realm the adorable sign of salvation: as if even then to confirm all his followers by this mere symbol of his work, and say, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10,38). But as the multitudes went with Jesus to the place of punishment, a certain Simon of Cyrene was found on whom to lay the wood of the cross instead of the Lord; that even by this act might be pre-signified the Gentiles’ faith, to whom the cross of Christ was to be not shame but glory.
maronite readings – rosary,team

What need was there that the Son of God should suffer for us? There was great need: and indeed it can be assigned to two reasons. The first is that it was a remedy against sin, and the second is for an example of what we should do… For the Passion of Christ can bring about a complete reformation of our lives… If you seek an example of charity, then “no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15,13)… If you seek an example of patience, you will find it in its highest degree on the cross… Christ suffered greatly upon the cross and with all patience, because “when he was insulted, he returned no insult” (1Pt 2,23), “like a lamb led to the slaughter, he opened not his mouth” (Is 53,7)… “Let us persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame” (Heb 12,1-2). If you seek an example of humility, look upon him who is crucified; although he was God, he chose to be judged by Pontius Pilate and put to death… If you seek an example of obedience, imitate him who was obedient to the Father “even to death” (Phil 2,8). “For just as through the disobedience of one person, Adam, the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous” (Rom 5,19)… If you seek an example of contempt for earthly things, imitate him who is “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1Tm 6,15), “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2,3). On the cross he was stripped naked, ridiculed, spat upon, bruised, crowned with thorns, given to drink of vinegar and gall.

maronite readings – rosary,team