Sorrowful Meditations: Scourging at the Pillar

The second sorrowful mystery is the scourging at the pillar.

This mystery is one of the scariest for me to contemplate, because it shows just how depraved and bloodthirsty we humans can be.

In Luke's Gospel, he writes that Pilate addressed the crowds three times, telling them that Jesus had committed no capital crime.

Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” 

But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.”

(Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.)

Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” - Luke 23:13-22 (bold added by me)

 So, this isn't a case of people getting over-excited and then handing him over to Pilate, who enthusiastically sends Jesus to His death. This isn't even a case of Pilate asking them once what they want and everyone angrily screaming, "Crucify him!"

Pilate asks the Jewish people three times if just flogging Him will suffice, and they say no, He must die. Of course, the point isn't that Jewish people are inherently evil as a race. The point is that the people asking for Jesus' death knew Him - He had taught them, healed them, fed them, maybe even made things for them in the carpentry shop or played with them as a child. Even Peter denied Him, although he did not shout "Crucify him!" along with the crowd, I'm sure. This is the ultimate betrayal.

This is one reason why this mystery haunts me so much when I meditate on it - as a cradle Catholics, I have been granted a relationship with Christ that many will never have on Earth. He has nourished me with His Body and Blood. Beyond even just being a neighbor of His who might have seen a few miracles performed by Him, I have been taught about His sacrifice for me since before I can remember, and yet I still sin.

I can almost hear Pilate's voice sometimes, saying "This man has committed no crime," hear him saying that Jesus will be scourged and then released, and I know that although I have not said the words aloud, my actions are my way of shouting along with the crowd, "Crucify Him."

Shouldn't scourging be enough? Can't I even limit my sinning to that much pain? After all, I cried after getting swatted with Crape Myrtle switches as a kid - I can't imagine what it would be like to be tied to a pillar and whipped mercilessly with leather thongs that have small sharp bones attached to them.

It's really horrific to think of how much pain Jesus endured for our sake, of course, but we need to meditate on this mystery, on why we often don't stop sinning even when given multiple opportunities to stop, even when we have seen the pain we are causing. Only when we meditate on the suffering of Christ can we begin to recognize His healing love, and only then will we find the courage to truly repent.

And our repentance actually matters, of course, because of Jesus' sacrifice. That is the joyful side of the sorrowful mysteries - through Jesus' sacrifice, the gates of paradise are opened, and we can return to Him.

It is difficult to meditate on these mysteries, but it can be (at least, it has been for me) a healing meditation. I walk into meditating on these mysteries like I walk into Confession, slowly and nervously, scared to death of the horrible truth I have seen in myself, but I also leave like I leave Confession, smiling in joy at the wonderful truth I have seen in Christ Jesus.

Yes, we have fallen asleep while He prayed, we have scourged Him, we have mocked Him, we have watched Him carry His cross without offering to share the burden, and we have nailed Him to that cross and killed our Lord, but He has defeated death and sin. I am amazed at my own horrific acts, but I am more amazed at the love of Christ, at the amount that He is willing to forgive.

The Sorrowful Mysteries can be looked at in two ways:

1. They show the horrible things which we have done to Christ.

2. They show all the horrible things which Christ has forgiven out of love for us.

Let me know your thoughts if you have any, of course!