The Crowning of Thorns - Forgiveness

 

The Crowning of Thorns

Fruit of the Mystery: Forgiveness

After Jesus was scourged, the Roman soldiers “stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27: 28-29).

After the torture of the scourging, Jesus is subject to more pain and humiliation. The thorns cut into his head. He was cruelly taunted. Yet, he did not lash out at his persecutors. He had it in his power to retaliate in ways the soldiers could not even have imagined, but instead Jesus subjected himself to the suffering for our salvation. In an even more radical move, while hanging on the cross, he begged his Father to forgive those who tormented him. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

In our lives, each one of us has been hurt in some way by others. We have been bullied. We have been abused. We have been betrayed by someone close to us. Jesus knows what it is to experience all that pain.

When we have been hurt, our first response is often to want to retaliate in some way. We want to get even. We want to make the person pay for what they have done. Jesus invites us to set aside that desire and to instead forgive those who have persecuted us.

Each time we pray the Our Father, we say, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The sad reality is that due to our fallen nature, we also sin and hurt others, both intentionally and unintentionally. If we want to be forgiven for what we have done, we must also forgive others.

Extending forgiveness can be challenging. We may not want to forgive. But we can choose to take our pain and suffering to God and to ask God for the strength to forgive. We can make a conscious choice every day to forgive. With God’s help, the pain and anger will lessen in time. Forgiveness not only releases the one who harmed us. It frees our souls and allows us to heal as well.

In meditating on this mystery of The Crowning of Thorns, may we pray for the strength to follow Christ’s example and to forgive those who have wronged us.

 

The Fruits of the Mysteries of the Rosary is available on Amazon. 

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Purchases made after clicking a link help support this site. Thank you!