Rosary Meditation on the Sorrowful Mysteries
1. Agony in the Garden
While Jesus is praying the guards come to arrest Jesus. Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. Judas does not understand who Jesus really is. Judas is distracted with the lure of money and fitting in. It is easy to hate Judas in this scene, but can we honestly say we have never been tempted by money and popularity? Think about it. Do you think you have ever betrayed Jesus for the love of money?
2. Scourging at Pillar
When Jesus speaks with Pilate He says those who listen to the truth will here my voice? Pilate couldn't understand this because he did not value truth. Do you value truth? How often do you lie in a week? Who's voice are we listening to when we don't choose to tell the truth?
3. Crowning of the Thorns
Jesus stands in front of an angry crowd with a Crown of thorns ripping into His scalp. His body has been scourged. And the crowd yells crucify Him, crucify Him. Why couldn't the crowd recognize that Jesus was the Christ? Have you ever went along with popular opinion just because it was easier than standing up for what is right? Has Jesus ever stood in front of you and you failed to recognize who was asking you to do the right thing?
4. Carrying of the Cross
Mary lovingly gazed into Jesus' eyes when He fell, Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross, and Veronica wiped the face of our Lord with a cloth. These acts must have been extremely important to Jesus or they would not have been told over and over for the past two thousand years.. Jesus asks us to respond with mercy and compassion when we see each other hurting-even if it is the smallest of acts.
5. Crucifixion
The crucifixion is one of the most difficult things to understand, especially for those closest to Jesus. How could this possibly be the Plan, how could this be God's Will? Mary, John, Mary Magdalene, and a few other Holy Woman stay with Jesus until the end. It must have been horribly painful to watch Jesus be crucified and scary to think the same could happen to His followers. John was the youngest of the disciples, I'm sure he was very afraid. He didn't run away like the rest of the apostles, he remained faithful to Jesus. I think that's a good lesson for all of us. We don't always understand Gods Will, we have no control over God's Will. The only thing we have control over is our response to God's Will. Will you still say "yes" to God no matter what it will cost you?
-Susan
-Susan
