The Sorrowful Mysteries - Meditations with St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
The Agony in the Garden
Not my will, but yours be done! These were the hardest moments for Him in His life. It is believed that the agony in the Garden of Olives was even more severe than during the crucifixion. For then His heart and soul were crucified, while on the cross – His body…
And that during that hour it was so very difficult for Jesus to bear, is shown by the words He uttered: So, could you not watch with me one hour? (Mt 26:40). From this we know that He longed for consolation. Jesus commands: watch and pray (…). Only by watching and praying can we remain faithful to Him.
The Scourging at the Pillar
How hard it was for Him when He had to endure the scourging, when He was spat upon in the face… When you feel downcast, look at Him, then you will understand what is happening. Suffering, pain, sorrow, humiliation, the feeling of loneliness are the kiss of Jesus, a sign that you have come so close to Him that He could kiss you. Pain is not a punishment. Jesus never punishes. Pain is a sign that we have drawn very close to Jesus on the cross. Let us learn from Mary, who seeing Jesus reviled and scourged, was not afraid to admit that She was His Mother. Let us pray to Her that our hearts may be filled with trust, so that nothing may separate us from the love of Christ.
The Crowning with Thorns
Let us implore Our Lady to make our hearts as meek and humble as the heart of Her Son was. Let us learn humility by accepting humiliations cheerfully. Do not let this opportunity pass you by. It is so easy to be proud, insensitive, fickle, and selfish, but we were created for greater things. Why then stoop to things that will destroy the beauty of our hearts?
The Carrying of the Cross
Everywhere today we encounter suffering of body and soul. Pain and suffering have entered your life too, but remember that your pain, sorrow, and suffering are nothing other than the kiss of Jesus. Each of us should immerse ourselves in the passion of Christ with even greater love. He is looking for someone to console Him, to encourage Him. Are you striving hard enough for this? Today Christ suffers in many ways in the most despised people: thirsty for love, He looks your way; hungering for kindness, He asks it of you; longing for devotion, He places His hope in you. Sick and in prison, He seeks your friendship. Homeless, He asks for shelter in your heart. Will you welcome Him?
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
I thirst – Jesus said on the cross. He spoke not of thirst for water, but for love. He, the Creator of the universe, asked for the love of those who are His creation. He thirsts for our love. Does the echo of these words resound in our souls? Look at the cross, and you will see the head of Jesus, inclined to kiss you; His arms outstretched to embrace you; His heart open to receive you, to enclose you in His love. Since we know that the cross is the sign of Christ's greatest love for you and for me, let us accept His cross in everything He chooses to give us, and let us give back to Him with joy everything He chooses to take away. If we do so, the world will know that we are His disciples, that we belong to Jesus, that the deeds we perform, you and I, and all brothers and sisters, are nothing other than our love put into action.