In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
A Reading from Hosea
6. 1-6
Thus saith the Lord: In their affliction they will rise early to Me: Come, and let us return to the Lord, for He hath taken us, and He will heal us, He will strike, and He will cure us. He will revive us after two days: on the third day He will raise us up and we shall live in His sight. We shall know and we shall follow on, that we may know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as the morning light and He will come to us as the early and the latter rain to the earth. What shall I do to thee, O Ephraim? What shall I do to thee, O Juda? Your mercy is as a morning cloud and as the dew that goeth away in the morning. For this reason have I hewed them by the Prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgements shall go forth as the light. For I desired mercy and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more than holocausts.
Habacuc 3
O Lord, I have heard Thy hearing and was afraid: I have considered Thy works and trembled.
In the midst of two animals Thou shalt be made known: when the years shall draw nigh Thou shalt be known: when the time shall come, Thou shalt be manifested.
When my soul shall be in trouble, Thou wilt remember mercy, even in Thy wrath.
God will come from Libanus, and the Holy One from the shady and thickly covered mountain.
His majesty covered the heavens: and the earth is full of His praise.
A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to John
Pilate therefore went into the hall again and called Jesus and said to Him: Art Thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have other told it thee of Me? Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee up to me. What hast Thou done? Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now My kingdom is not from hence. Pilate therefore said to Him: Art Thou a King then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony of the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice. Pilate saith to Him: What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and saith to them: I find no cause in Him. But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Pasch. Will you, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying: Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. Then therefore Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.
Ps 139:2-10, 14
Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.
Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; the venom of asps is under their lips.
Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me.
Who have proposed to supplant my steps. The proud have hidden a net for me.
And they have stretched out cords for a snare for my feet; they have laid for me a stumbling-block by the wayside.
I said to the Lord: Thou art my God. Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication.
O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: overshadow my head in the day of battle.
Give me not up from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me. Do not Thou forsake me, lest at any time they should triumph.
The head of them compassing me about: the labor of their lips shall overwhelm them.
But the just shall give glory to Thy Name: and the upright shall dwell with Thy countenance.
From Holy Rosary by St. Josemaria Escriva - the Scourging at the pillar
Pilate speaks: It is your custom that I release one prisoner to you on the Pasch. Whom shall I set free, Barabbas —a thief jailed with others for a murder —or Jesus? (Matt 27:17) —Put this man to death and release unto us Barabbas, cries the multitude, incited by their chief priests (Luke 23:18).
Pilate speaks again: What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ? (Matt 27:22) —Crucifige eum! Crucify Him!
Pilate, for the third time, says to them: Why, what evil has He done? I find no fault in Him that deserves death (Luke 23:22).
The clamour of the mob grows louder: Crucify Him, crucify Him! (Mark 15:14)
And Pilate, wishing to please the populace, releases Barabbas to them and orders Jesus to be scourged.
Bound to the pillar. Covered with wounds.
The blows of the lash sound upon His torn flesh, upon His undefiled flesh, that suffers for your sinful flesh. —More blows. More fury. Still more... It is the last extreme of human cruelty.
Finally, exhausted, they unbind Jesus. —And the body of Christ yields to pain and falls limp, broken and half dead.
You and I are unable to speak. —Words are not needed. —Look at Him, look at Him... slowly. After this... can you ever fear penance?
Pray 5 decades of the Rosary meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries
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