Paige Mullin is a second-year Christianity & Culture and Book & Media Studies double major. She is a Student Campus Minister at the University of St. Michael’s College and Associate Editor for the Saeculum Academic Undergraduate Journal. She is very excited to share this reflection with the community and hopes you enjoy reading it.
One of my Lenten prayer goals for this year was to pray the rosary every day. During the season of Lent, the only mysteries prayed are the sorrowful ones: the agony in the garden, the scourging at the pillar, the crowning of thorns, the carrying of the cross, and the crucifixion. Through this season, I have had plenty time to reflect on each mystery. As Holy Week approaches, the meditations I’ve done are becoming more relevant. I thought I would share my thoughts on the Passion of Christ, particularly my roles in the story as someone living 2000 years after it took place.
The Agony in the Garden:
Jesus goes to Gethsemane to pray before His passion. He asks His disciples to stay awake and keep watch. Jesus returns to find them asleep, having given into the temptation of the flesh.
I am the disciples, the ones who succumb to temptations of the world. Often, I am willing to do God’s will, but I fail. Other times God will ask something of me that I don’t want to hear. I will try to drown it out with worldly pleasures.
The Scourging at the Pillar:
Jesus is presented to Pontius Pilate, who finds no fault in him. The crowd demands Jesus be put to death. Pilate has him beaten, scourged, hoping to appease the crowd, but they are relentless. Pontius Pilate gives into the demands of the crowd and has Jesus crucified.
I am Pontius Pilate, following the masses and doing what is asked of me, even if it’s wrong. Pilate condemned Jesus to death, and that was a terrible thing to do, however, he was so reluctant. I can’t count the number of times I haven given into pressure from friends, family and strangers to do wrong or avoid good.
The Crowning of Thorns:
The soldiers took Jesus away, stripped Him, and placed a crown of thorns on His head. They mocked Him, spat on Him, and chanted “Hail, King of the Jews”.
I am the soldiers, mocking Christ. As a Christian, I am called to live like Jesus, and part of that is to bring the faith to others through my actions and words. I sin, and I do it in the name of Christ. It is human nature to sin, I’m not going out of my way to say, “Jesus wants me to sin”, but in stiving for goodness, I fall, and if anyone was to look at me for guidance, I might unknowingly lead them astray.
The Carrying the Cross
Jesus was made to carry his cross to Golgotha. Crowds watched as He struggled and fell, laughing or weeping. One man, Simon of Cyrene, was told to help Jesus in carrying the cross.
I am the bystanders, watching the struggle of their neighbour. I have seen people struggle with their own crosses, and I have stood in the crowd, sometimes laughing at them, sometimes weeping for them, but taking no action. All too often I send them thoughts and prayers, but I don’t help carry their cross.
I am Simon. I do sometimes take action when I notice someone is struggling. I offer what I can to lighten their load. Sometimes I need someone to usher me into it, but I strive to relieve burdens when I can.
The Crucifixion:
Jesus is crucified beside two criminals, one desperate and angry, the other pitying and remorseful. The first thief asks Jesus to save them all, for if He is who He claims to be, He would have that power. The second thief asks Jesus to remember him when He’s in heaven.
I am the first thief, asking Jesus to prove Himself. My prayers often feel like a wish list where I ask God to grant me all I want. I don’t care about anything but my own desire and neglect to think about if it is God’s plan.
I am the second thief, asking for mercy. I am a sinner, but when I ask Jesus for forgiveness, it is granted. I know I am not worthy of God’s grace, but He gives it anyway because He loves me, and every time I ask for mercy, He opens my heart to receive more.
Many of the characters I have identified may resonate in your own life, or maybe not. But the act is, we are all human. We are tempted, pressured, and standing idly by as someone struggles. But we are also willing, helping others, and, most importantly, loved. We can learn from the narrative to identify our own faults and do our best to rectify them. That is why the Passion of Christ is so important, it asks you who you are, and what you are doing. It urges you to be better and prepares you to meet Christ in heaven.
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