CHRIST, THE FOOD OF YOUR SOUL.

"Come eat My bread and drink the wine which I have mingled for you." (Prov. 9:5)

I.

Christ with five loaves fed five thousand persons. (John 6) The same Christ will enter this day into your soul, to feed it with a food the most wholesome and the most precious that ever could exist, His own precious body and blood: "For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed." (John 6:56) To remove your apprehensions and fears, He himself invites you to His feast: "Eat, O friends, and drink, and be inebriated, my dearly beloved." (Cant. 5:1)

II.

Corporal food produces three effects on the body: it strengthens, satiates, and preserves life. Three similar effects, as the Angelical Doctor observes, are produced in the soul by the Eucharistic Bread. This divine food strengthens it by giving it grace and virtue to overcome vice and bad habits. Next, it satiates the soul, by creating a disgust of earthly pleasures; for, as the Wise Man says: "A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb" (Prov.27:7), that is, it will despise the vanities and follies of the world. Lastly, it preserves the spiritual life of the soul, and advances it to immortality. "He who eateth this Bread," says Christ Himself, "shall live forever." (John 6:59) How great a happiness it is to feed upon such Bread!

III.

The most wholesome food produces no good effect on the body if the digestive powers be disordered. Distempered bodies are endangered by delicacies, because what would otherwise be nutritive is converted into noxious humors. Take care, then, to prepare your soul, if you desire "to taste and see that the Lord is sweet." (Ps. 33:9) Rid your soul of evil inclinations, which prevent spiritual digestion. "Let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of the chalice." (1 Cor. 11:28)

CHRIST CROWNED WITH THORNS.

I.

From Christ's excessive love of suffering for our sake, He is not content to endure ordinary pains only, but He permits the soldiers to invent an unheard-of manner of torture. They strip Him of His clothes, which by this time clung to His lacerated body, and thus opened His wounds afresh; then they clothe Him in a ragged purple robe, as a mock-king. Observe how this meek Lamb of God suffers His persecutors to abuse Him at pleasure, without making the least resistance or complaint. Then was fulfilled the oracle of David: "I became as a man who heareth not, and who hath no reproofs in his mouth." (Ps. 37:15)

II.

"And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head" (Matt. 27:29) "The crown of thorns was taken off and put on again several times during His Passion," says Catharine Emmerich. O unheard-of cruelty! "Go forth, ye daughters of Sion, and see King Solomon in the diadem, wherewith His mother (the synagogue, which was His mother according to the flesh) crowned Him." (Cant. 3:2) Away with all pride, away with sensuality. "Be ashamed," says St. Bernard, "to be a delicate member under a thorn-crowned head."

III.

"And they put a reed in His right hand. And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews." What indignities! What torments! Ponder deeply each word of this simple and afflicting detail. Observe how this king of patience holds in His hand this scepter of scorn and derision in order to incite you to imitation. Then were accomplished the words of Isaiah: "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen, in whom my soul hath been well pleased. He shall not contend, nor cry out; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. The bruised reed He shall not break, and the smoking flax He shall not extinguish, till he send forth judgment unto victory." (Matt. 12:18 and Isa. 42:1)

BEHOLD THE MAN. I.

I.

"Jesus came forth, bearing the crown of thorns, and the purple garment." (John 19:5) In order to move the Jews to compassion, Pilate brought Jesus before the people scourged, and crowned as He was. Conceive what dismay it must have caused to our Lord to be thus exposed to the Pharisees and His other enemies, and with what patience our meek Lamb bore this ignominy. Oh, how you are changed, sweet Jesus, from the condition in which you were seen glorious on Mount Tabor! How different in appearance from that Divine Being who sat upon the Cherubim, displaying the rays of your majesty to the highest heavens!

II.

And Pilate said: "Behold the man!" He was so disfigured, that He hardly had the appearance of a man. How true was the oracle of the Prophet: "There is no beauty in Him, nor comeliness, and we have seen Him, and there was no sightliness that we should be desirous of Him." (Isa. 53:2) Who would not melt into tears at beholding so sad a spectacle! Yet the hard-hearted crowd are not only unmoved, but they cry out with unparalleled ferocity: "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" (John 19:6) O most beautiful of the sons of men! Where is now that gracious countenance of Yours? "Do not consider that I am brown, because the sun hath altered my color." (Cant. 1:5) The sun and heat of your charity have indeed changed Your color, and have given You the appearance of a "worm and no man, the reproach of men and the outcast of the people." (Ps. 21:7)

III.

Pilate had long labored to release Christ, but when he heard these words: "If thou release this man thou art not Caesar's friend," he yielded to malicious importunity. His policy induced him to fear, lest any accusation might be brought against him at the imperial court. Take care that no such human respect ever prevail upon you thus to act in opposition to equity and justice. "He who feareth man," says Solomon, "shall quickly fall; he who trusteth in the Lord shall be set on high." (Prov. 29:25)

BEHOLD THE MAN. II.

I.

Having represented Christ to the eyes of your soul, crowned with thorns and clad in a robe of scorn, covered with wounds and fainting under them, imagine you hear the words: "Behold the man!" addressed to you by the Holy Ghost. Believe that the Divine Spirit thus addresses you, in order that you may more attentively contemplate the Man-God. He whom you behold clothed in the semblance of man is the Supreme God, the Lord of all things, the long-expected Messiah, your Savior, the Teacher and Shepherd of your soul. For love of you, He has thus debased Himself beneath the condition of a slave.

II.

Next, imagine that these same words: "Behold the man!" are addressed to you by the eternal Father, proposing His Son to you as an example of every virtue which you ought to imitate. "Behold the man, behold the servant whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul hath been well pleased." (Matt. 12:18) My Son suffers Himself to be contemned and insulted, to heal your pride; He is naked, in order that He may correct your covetousness; He endures excessive torments, to atone for your sensualities; "He turns His cheek to him that striketh Him" (Lam. 3:30), to teach you how to annihilate your angry passions. Examine in what you can imitate Him.

III.

These words: "Behold the man!" may be addressed by you and by the whole Church to the eternal Father, offering Christ as a peace offering for all our sins. O eternal God, behold the man who, in the name and on behalf of all mankind, offers Himself as an atonement for Adam's transgression. "He is the propitiation for our sins," therefore, "behold, O Lord! our protector, and look on the face of Thy Christ." (1 John 2:2 and Ps. 83:10) Say the same often to yourself, with feelings (1) of affectionate compassion for your suffering Savior, (2) of gratitude for His numerous torments endured for you, (3) of confidence and hope in so much goodness, and (4) of an ardent desire to imitate His example, and of suffering for the love of your Redeemer.

CHRIST CONDEMNED TO DEATH.

I.

"As Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things this day, in a dream, on account of Him." (Matt. 28:19) Contemplate the goodness of God, who by various means endeavors to divert sinners from guilt, as He did in this case in regard to Pilate. It was true of him, as it is of all other sinners: "Destruction is thy own, O Israel." (Hos. 13:9) How often has He admonished you, by speaking interiorly to your heart, by holy inspirations, and exteriorly by preachers and superiors, forbidding you to do this or that, and yet you have neglected their words. Be more attentive hereafter to these divine admonitions.

II.

"And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; having taken water, washed his hands before the people, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look ye to it." (Matt. 27:24) Yet, at the same time, he pronounced sentence of death against Him. Thus many pretend by their actions to be innocent, but keep no restraint over their tongues; they do not offend against their neighbors by outward action, but make no scruple of injuring them by detraction. Listen to the embittered cry of the Jews: "His blood be upon us and upon our children." Observe how passion drives its votaries headlong to perdition and guard against its effects in yourself.

III.

"And Pilate gave sentence that their petition should be granted." (Luke 23:24) Reflect how unjust this sentence was. The author of life is condemned to death almost in the same breath that He is pronounced innocent and just. How criminal was the action of Pilate when he yielded to the unjust demands of the Jews! For your part, be steady and resolute in defense of justice, although a thousand deaths should threaten you. Imagine with what shouts of joy and applause the people welcomed this sentence, and how the priests and Pharisees triumphed. Ponder the feelings of Christ at the time. He made no complaint nor opposition, but with undaunted courage "delivered Himself to him who judged Him unjustly." (1 Pet. 2:23)

CHRIST CARRIES HIS CROSS.

I.

After Christ is condemned to die, He is stripped of the purple robe, and clothed in His own garment again, in order that He may be better known, being in His own attire. He is not relieved, however, of His crown of thorns. In like manner, if you wish to carry the cross after your Savior, you must cast off the purple robe, that is, every affection to the world, and put on the garment and livery of Christ, viz., mildness and patience, according to the command of the Apostle: "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 13:14)

II.

When the cross was brought forth, our Savior without doubt exulted, and with greater reason than did afterwards His disciple St. Andrew, who, as St. Bernard writes, addressed his cross to this effect: "Welcome, precious cross, long-wished for, entirely beloved, and now at last prepared to my heart's desire." He then embraced it, and took it on His shoulders. What shouting and laughter arose on that occasion among the people! For His greater ignominy, two thieves are led along with Him; but with what difference both of countenance and disposition of mind do they bear their several crosses! Think whom you would wish to imitate in carrying yours.

III.

"And bearing His own cross, He went forth" (John 19:17), between two thieves, and preceded by a public crier announcing the cause of His condemnation. Thus did Isaac formerly carry on his shoulders the wood for the sacrifice, of which his father had destined him to be the victim. See how the tender and feeble members of your Savior sink under the weight! He falls again and again! O Angels of heaven! Why do you not ease Him of His burden? Your sins were more burdensome to Him than was even His cross; "for the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isa. 53:6)

CHRIST MEETS HIS MOTHER.

I.

As soon as Christ was sentenced to death, the news was probably conveyed to His Blessed Mother by some one of His Disciples. Ponder how, on this occasion, the prophecy of Simeon was fully verified; for her soul was truly pierced with the sword of sorrow. She might well have applied the affecting expressions of David, in regard to his son Absalom, to her suffering Son: "My Son Jesus, Jesus, my Son, would to God that I might die for Thee, Jesus, my Son, my Son Jesus!" (2 Kings 18:33) She resigned herself, however, to the will of God, saying: "Nevertheless, as it shall be the will of God in heaven, so let it be done." (1 Mac.3:60)

II.

Notwithstanding her sorrows, it is most probable that she resolved immediately to go to the place of execution, and give her last embrace to her Son. She remains, therefore, with the other women, by the side of the way through which her suffering Son was to pass. Reflect on her agonizing pains when she saw the rabble advancing with ladders, hammers, and nails, and other instruments of punishment. But what must her feelings have been when she beheld her Son proceeding between two thieves, loaded with a heavy cross, and beaten along by inhuman soldiers. Condole with the two sufferers, and grieve that your sins have been the cause of their pains and torments.

III.

Consider the words of Christ addressed to the other women who shed tears as He passed by: "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over Me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children: for if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?" (Luke 23:28, 31) Christ was the green wood, and we sinners are the dry wood, more calculated for the fire. If the green wood underwent such a heat of sufferings for the sins of others, how great will be the sufferings of sinners in hell, or purgatory, for their own! If the Father so severely chastised the sins of others, in the person of His most innocent and well-beloved Son, how much more will He punish them on the offenders themselves. "That day of wrath, calamity, and misery" will certainly arrive for us all. Weep, therefore, for yourself now, that you may not be forced to weep forever.