A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings
This passage teaches us about our failures and God’s amazing mercy. Israel’s poor spiritual condition, not their lack of worldly power and possessions, lay at the root of their failure as a people. The Israelites had begun worshipping Baal because he was thought to be the god over the weather and nature; the god of agricultural success. In an agricultural society people served Baal because they wanted good weather for abundant crops and flocks. What idols have we turned to in hopes of attaining success in this world? In what areas of our life have we experienced failure, and how might our unfaithfulness to God be the cause of such failure? The Israelites responded to failure by repenting of their sins. This was clearly expressed cthrough their weeping and sorrow. Have we repented? What concrete steps have we taken that show we have turned away from idols and turned towards God again?
Believe it or not, there are people in the church community who intentionally cause division and discord. Keep an eye on those who cause such dissensions and offenses. These kind of people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own selfish appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. Those of you who are obedient to God’s word and who have received the wisdom of the Holy Spirit must always be aware that evil lurks in your very midst. Therefore, do not become surprised or frustrated when you see evildoers going about their ways. God will crush such evildoers under His feet. Focus on the grace of of our Lord Jesus Christ for He is able to strengthen you by His word and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you keep your heart, mind and soul focused on God, then He will reveal to you the mystery which is kept secret from those whose ways are evil. The evil are not able to understand or accept God’s holy ways. When you perceive the mysteries of eternal communion with God and His saints, then you will be find inspiration to remain obedient to the faith and committed to glorifying God’s name in every situation despite being persecuted for your faith..
Simon from Cyrene was compelled to carry Jesus’s cross. Would we be willing to carry the cross of Jesus if asked to do so? In what ways are we currently taking up the cross and following Jesus along the way to Golgotha? Let us observe a moment of silence and be present in the experience of Jesus at Golgatha. (Silence)
And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.
It was customary to give those about to be crucified a pain-numbing and mind-numbing drink, to lessen their awareness of the agony awaiting them. But Jesus refused any numbing drug. He chose to face the spiritual and physical terror with His senses awake.
And when they had crucified him,
The victim’s back was first torn open by the scourging, then opened again as the congealing, clotting blood came off with the clothing that was removed at the place of crucifixion. When thrown on the ground to nail the hands to the crossbeam, the wounds were again opened, deepened, and contaminated with dirt. While attached to the upright cross, each breath would cause the painful wounds on the back to scrape against the rough wood of the upright beam and were further aggravated
Driving the nail through the wrist severed the large median nerve. This stimulated nerve caused bolts of fiery pain in both arms, and often resulted in a claw-like grip in the victim’s hands.
Beyond the severe pain, the major effect of crucifixion inhibited normal breathing. The weight of the body, pulling down on the arms and shoulders, tended to lock the respiratory muscles in an inhalation state, thus hindering exhalation. The lack of adequate respiration resulted in severe muscle cramps, which hindered breathing even further. To get a good breath, one had to push against the feet and flex the elbows, pulling from the shoulders. Putting the weight of the body on the feet produced more pain, and flexing the elbows twisted the hands hanging on the nails. Lifting the body for a breath also painfully scraped the back against the rough wooden post. Each effort to get a proper breath was agonizing, exhausting, and led to a sooner death.
“Not uncommonly, insects would light upon or burrow into the open wounds or the eyes, ears, and nose of the dying and helpless victim, and birds of prey would tear at these sites. Moreover, it was customary to leave the corpse on the cross to be devoured by predatory animals.”
Death from crucifixion could come from many sources: acute shock from blood loss; being too exhausted to breathe any longer; dehydration; stress-induced heart attack; or congestive heart failure leading to a cardiac rupture. If the victim did not die quickly enough, the legs were broken, and the victim was soon unable to breathe.
they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots;
Jesus, who was robed in glory and majesty in Heaven, was now stripped naked on the cross.
then they sat down there and kept watch over him
This was to prevent someone from rescuing Jesus from the cross. Litle did they know that Jesus’s love would have held him there on that cross.
Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."
The written charge was normally carried before a criminal on the way to execution, or hung around his neck, and would then be fixed to the cross, thus reinforcing the deterrent effect of the punishment.
Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'" The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
In His crucifixion, Jesus stood right in the center of sinful humanity. With the mockery of the criminals, the rejection of Jesus by His people is complete. Even criminals rejected Him.
(Silence)
To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.
Fr. Thomas+
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