MARY, OUR MOTHER

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #536

And the men that held him mocked him and struck him. And they blindfolded him and smote his face. And they asked him saying: Prophesy: "Who is it that struck thee?" And blaspheming, many other things they said against him. (Luke 22:63-65)

WHAT THE SUFFERINGS OF JESUS WERE: It is with deep emotion and compassion that we approach the thought of what our Lord Jesus suffered that night. For hours together a low, ruffianly rabble amused itself by mocking the Son of God! These men abused Him and insulted Him in every way they could think of: they struck Him with their brutal fists, they tore out His hair, they spat on His sacred Face; and Jesus bore all silently and without complaint. His Sacred Face, full of gentleness and grace, was marred with bruises, and dishonored by the spittle of the very scum of humanity! Truly and terribly were David's words of prophecy fulfilled (Ps. 21:7): "I am a worm and no man, the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people!" If we contemplate our Savior in this state of deep abjection, we too could almost put the question to Him: "Art Thou the Christ? Art Thou the Son of God? Why dost Thou suffer this terrible treatment?" This is His answer: "I suffer this for love of thee; to make satisfaction for thy sins, and to give to thee an example of humility and patience."

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]

(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)