The Crowning with Thorns

And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. - Matthew 27:28-29

One of the disciplines I undertook for this season of Lent is to say the Rosary daily. If you are a Protestant, you may shake your head at this undertaking; but if you are Catholic you understand this to be a time to focus on the Mysteries of Christ's life, death and resurrection.

Last night the focus was on the Sorrowful Mysteries; the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross and the Crucifixion. These, when rightly reflected upon, should bring about a feeling of remorse for the sins in one's own life that contributed to this extreme act of mercy upon the part of our Savior. For me the one that really struck home on this occasion was the Crowning with Thorns.

In my mind I could see Christ amid the utmost humiliation as He was mocked, in particular with regard to His being the King of Kings. I could see the crown of thorns being placed on His head. And then, I had a sense of piercing my palm on the crown as it was placed on His head.

Is not that exactly what happens when we as Christians knowingly exercise our sinful nature? We say that He is Lord, which implies we are to do as He commands (love the Lord our God and love our neighbor as ourselves) and we outright ignore not just His authority, but His Wisdom. We add to the mockery of Christ's name, and we injure ourselves in the process.