MEDITATIONS ON THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: The Third Accusation Of Our Lord Before Pilate

BOSCH, Hieronymus 
Ecce Homo 
1475-80

The 27 Meditation of the third accusation of our Lord before Pilate
Then when the high Priests and the Ministers saw him, they cried, saying crucify him, crucify him.
Consider first, the people holding their peace, and inclining to commiseration, the Priests and their ministers, and flatterers were not pacified. That thou maist know first, that no man is moved more hardly to repent his sins, then he, which sinneth of set purpose and malice. For they which fall through weakness and ignorance, are sooner recalled, and deserve pardon; but they, which wittingly and willingly are civil, are rather hardened & obdurate, then any way amended by admonitions. 2. That the enemies of Christ and of his Church, are never the better for being used gently & courteously. For these kind of men are to be subdued by threatenings, terrors & constancy, & not by sufferance.

Consider 2. that even as these wicked men did upon the sight of the blood of Christ thirst after his death, like dogs upon the sight of the blood of a wild beast: So thou ought to be inflamed with the love of the passion of our Lord by the contemplation of his pains, that the fire of Devotion may be enkindled in thy meditations.

Consider thirdly how the words of these wicked people did pierce the bowels of thy Lord (crucify him, crucify him) of which he foretold in the Prophet: I have left my house: I have given my beloved soul into the hands of her enemies: my inheritance is made unto me like a lion in the wood. Suffer with thy Lord, and lament thy sins, which continually send forth the same cries, and are blood suckers, instantly crying Bring, Bring.

Fr. Francois Coster S.J.

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