the suffering christ 786 1. After the Prince of Peace, Christ the Lord, was already most frightfully flogged with scourges, and when the rage of the Rabbis was not yet satisfied, “And the soldiers led [H]im away inside the palace (that is, the praetorium); and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on [H]im” (Mk 15:16-17). You remember quite well what the the leaders of the Synagogue, the heads of the plot against Jesus, did before the very wicked Praetor, Pilate: “And they began to accuse [H]im, saying ‘We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that [H]e [H]imself is Christ a king’” (Lk 23:2). Therefore, in order that He might be afflicted with greater contempt, a king indeed, but [like one] from the theater, they mockingly worshipped [H]im, covered [by them] with royal purple, but worn out and torn; with a royal diadem, but fashioned out of thorns; with a royal scepter but composed of reeds, and they saluted: “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Mk 15:18). Now, what Christian heart is harder than diamond, that it will not be moved with such bitter mourning by the inhuman and infamous crowning of the Lord of Lords? What eyes are so dry, from which this most sorrowful and frightful spectacle would not at least elicit as many drops of tears as they see have flowed from the bloodied head and face of the Savior? Whose feelings are so savage, and moreover inhuman, that even the contempt and the stains of blood (ah! how many!) of the God-Man would still not soften hard hearts? 2. If it is His purple cloak, more than any other symbol of mockery and cruelty, that we look upon with admiration that flows not out of curiosity but out of piety, and if we embrace it not with the bodily eyes but with the light of a devout mind, will we not perceive a more splendid beauty flowing forth in the midst of disgrace and contempt of the sons of men? Once, the Israelite Mordecai, through Haman, the highest leader in the royal city of Susa, was richly adorned with the royal robe, shining with the royal crown, and seated atop the royal horse. He was led, by command of King Ahasuerus, with great
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