REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Day Twenty-Two of Lent
“Behold, Your King!”
Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”
When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. John 19:12-16
Yes, Jesus was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Our Blessed Mother knew this truth deep in her heart. Therefore, as she watched Pilate bring her beaten and bruised Son out for all to see, and then proclaim Him as King, she would have heard and believed. Pilate spoke these words in mockery and sarcasm, but our Blessed Mother knew them to be true.
What a contrast was thus presented for all to see. On one side there was Pilate, the worldly governor who had authority to crucify Jesus or release Him. On the other side was Jesus, bound hand and foot, treated as a criminal and seated on the judgment seat. He was about to be condemned to death by an earthly ruler. But from a divine perspective, Jesus was about to be enthroned on the true Judgment Seat of Grace. He wore a crown of thorns, but from the perspective of Heaven it was a crown of glory. He was about to receive the sentence of death, but from the perspective of Heaven it was a sentence that set all sinners free.
As our Blessed Mother stood before the Cross of her Son, she would have pondered these words of Pilate over and over: “Behold, your king!” Mother Mary did this perfectly. She beheld Him with her eyes and adored Him with her heart. She acknowledged His kingship and pledged her total submission to His rule. He was not only her Son, He was also her King in every way. The grace and mercy flowing from His throne of the Cross directed every moment of her life.
Too often in life, we fall into the error of valuing earthly power more than Heavenly power. But the kingship of Jesus should teach us that earthly power pales in comparison to the Heavenly authority Jesus exercised. He allowed men to treat Him as a criminal. But He exercised an authority that far surpassed the temporal influence of these earthly “kings.” Jesus’ Kingdom was not of this world. It was in the order of grace and mercy. Our Blessed Mother knew and pondered this, and chose her Son as her eternal King. “Behold, my Son, my King!” she would have prayed.
Reflect, today, upon which kingdom you participate in more fully. The kingdoms of this world need to be transformed by the one and only Kingdom of God. We must live in this world but not be a part of it. We must allow the dictates of the King of Grace and Mercy to rule our lives and we must not allow ourselves to become intoxicated with the temporal “power” that this world offers. Choose Jesus as your King as you stand beside His loving mother.
PRAYER
My dearest Mother, you understood well that the disingenuous words spoken by Pilate contained a much deeper truth than he understood. Your Son was King indeed. He was the King of Heaven and one day His Kingdom would transform even the visible world when every knee would bow before Him.
My dear Mother, pray for me that I may always keep my eyes upon the true Kingdom of Heaven and that I may never be drawn into the corruption of earthly power. Pray for me that I may be an instrument of the dictates of love pouring forth from the throne of your divine Son.
My dear Lord and King, I behold You and acknowledge You as the ruler of my life. May every breath I take, every word I speak and every action I perform be done at Your gentle command. I choose You, this day, as the sole and complete ruler of my life.
40 Days Journey with Our Lord
Day Twenty-Two: Joy
When Lent is lived well, it is not a season we might describe as “fun.” But “fun” should never be equated with joy. One of the central fruits of a well-lived Lent is joy. Joy comes from freedom from sin, clear and correct thinking, a deeper knowledge of God and His will, and further surrender of our lives to Him. But the path to that end might not be described as “fun.”
Fun, in the common use of the term, can be found in taking a vacation, engaging in a hobby, attending a party, or spending a good time with friends. Lent might be better analogized to giving birth to a child, studying for a final exam, or completing any arduous task. The end result of each will be some form of joy or satisfaction, but engaging in the actual task might not be immediately pleasurable.
We are a little more than halfway to Easter, and this is a good time to pause and consider how fruitful our Lenten journeys have been thus far. Fallen human nature is such that we often start out with good intentions, but then those good intentions begin to subside as we face the grueling work they require.
Lent is about repentance and conforming our will to God’s will. Repentance means we look honestly at sin, which is not pleasant. It’s like studying for a big exam. It takes work, commitment, determination, focus, and an open mind. It means we are open to discovering new things, making necessary changes to our lives, and suffering through those changes.
One of the best ways to persevere through the difficulties of Lent is by holding onto the hope of the joy that awaits. Easter is that joy. Easter is not only an event that took place two millennia ago; Easter is imminent and transformative for us today. The road to the joy of Easter is the hard work of Lent. Don’t lose your drive and determination this Lent. If you have begun to waver, use this middle point of Lent to reinvigorate your commitment.
Ponder again Jesus in the desert. Focus upon Him being only halfway through His forty days. At that point, He would have been quite tired, hungry, thirsty, hot, and uncomfortable. He did not let up. He saw the end of His forty days, and He saw the end of the three years of His public ministry that would follow. He knew that it all would lead to the joy of His Resurrection. That joy drove Him forward with unwavering resolve to fulfill the Father’s will. Seek to do the same.
PRAYER
Lord of hope and joy, You endured the sufferings of the desert and the sufferings of Your Cross because You knew they would end in glory and in the salvation of many souls. May I be among those “many” who seek to follow You, carrying my cross, allowing You to transform my life, and engaging in the hard work of the purification of my soul. My life is Yours, dear Lord; lead me through the rest of this “desert” of Lent.
Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Source: mycatholiclife