MARY IN THE PASSION
3. The Death Sentence.
Pilate cowardly surrenders to the shouts of the crowd and consequently sentences Jesus to death. The people cheer the sentence and clap their hands. Mary also hears the sentence. You also hear it. And what would you do? Jesus is sentenced to death! He dies, and you can still live? How would Jesus and Mary receive that sentence? And how do you hear it, if you think that on it your salvation depends? What sentiments of gratitude and at the same time what deep sorrow should fill your heart!
Look at Jesus barely able to stand, making an extreme effort and throwing Himself forward eagerly to meet the cross that is brought to him by the executioners. See Him well: how He embraces it as if it were something long desired and dearly loved. He does not want anybody else to carry it for Him. He will place it on His own shoulders. What generosity, what true love is that of Our Saviour!
But now Mary has something to say. Listen. She wants something from you. She wants you to acknowledge Jesus as your King. She wants Him to be the only one reigning in your heart. She wants that nobody, not even yourself, should occupy the place that corresponds to His. She wants you to be generous in sacrifice. She wants you not only to accept but also to love, and to look for, the cross. That the Cross should be your happiness. That you should bear it with constancy, with perseverance to the last. And She adds that She will help you to do so.
Finally, She wants you to realize what sin is. And to atone for your sins with penance and fervor. Furthermore, She asks you to make amends to Jesus for the sins of the whole world. She expects you not to be a coward, ungrateful, unfaithful in front of a love as great as that of Jesus.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
3. The Death Sentence.
Pilate cowardly surrenders to the shouts of the crowd and consequently sentences Jesus to death. The people cheer the sentence and clap their hands. Mary also hears the sentence. You also hear it. And what would you do? Jesus is sentenced to death! He dies, and you can still live? How would Jesus and Mary receive that sentence? And how do you hear it, if you think that on it your salvation depends? What sentiments of gratitude and at the same time what deep sorrow should fill your heart!
Look at Jesus barely able to stand, making an extreme effort and throwing Himself forward eagerly to meet the cross that is brought to him by the executioners. See Him well: how He embraces it as if it were something long desired and dearly loved. He does not want anybody else to carry it for Him. He will place it on His own shoulders. What generosity, what true love is that of Our Saviour!
But now Mary has something to say. Listen. She wants something from you. She wants you to acknowledge Jesus as your King. She wants Him to be the only one reigning in your heart. She wants that nobody, not even yourself, should occupy the place that corresponds to His. She wants you to be generous in sacrifice. She wants you not only to accept but also to love, and to look for, the cross. That the Cross should be your happiness. That you should bear it with constancy, with perseverance to the last. And She adds that She will help you to do so.
Finally, She wants you to realize what sin is. And to atone for your sins with penance and fervor. Furthermore, She asks you to make amends to Jesus for the sins of the whole world. She expects you not to be a coward, ungrateful, unfaithful in front of a love as great as that of Jesus.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
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