Quinquagesima Sunday The Gospel Luc. 18 v.31.Tuesday Meditation


GOSPEL (Luke 18:31-43) 
At that time, Jesus took unto him the twelve and said to them: "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the Son of man. For he shall be delivered to the Gentiles and shall be mocked and scourged and spit upon. And after they have scourged him, they will put him to death. And the third day he shall rise again." And they understood none of these things, and this word was hid from them: and they understood not the things that were said. Now it came to pass, when he drew nigh to Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the way side, begging. And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this meant. And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out much more: "Son of David, have mercy on me." And Jesus standing, commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him, Saying; "What wilt thou that I do to thee?" But he said: "Lord, that I may see." And Jesus said to him: "Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole." And immediately he saw and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Consideration For Tuesday

And the third day I will rise again.

It is much to be noted, that the Evangelists, when they relate any joys or glorious mystery or passage of Christ here on earth: they are very sparing and brief, as when they relate the joy of his Nativity, which is a subject of plentiful discourse, it is only said, And there was joined with the Angel, that brought the tidings thereor, a multitude of the heavenly Army of Angels, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and peace unto men in earth of good will.

Of his apparition to the three kings, it is only said: And they falling down adored him. Of his glorious transfiguration: And he was transfigured before them. Of his triumphant Ascension, and our lord was assumpted into heaven. And in this place, of his victorious resurrection Christ himself saith only this: And the third day I will rise again.

But when they come to his passion, the Evangelists that write thereof dilate themselves, and omit neither nails, nor thorns, nor scourges, nor buffets, nor scorning, nor blindfolding, nor blaspheming, nor his fools coat, nor stripping him of his garment, nor his gall and vinegar, nor his purple Robe, nor Reed, nor his Scepter, nor his crown of thrones in derision, nor the pearcing his side with a spear after he was dead, nor any thing else, as if they had been so many titles of honor (as indeed Christ esteemed them) And in this gospel for these few words of Christ concerning his glorious resurrection (And the third day I will rise again,) of his afflictions he said, we will go to Jerusalem, and there there the son of man shall be delivered to the gentiles, and whipped, and mocked, and spit at, and crucified.

Oh the infinite love of Christ towards man, that he glorieth more in the titles of his afflictions and miseries sustained for our love, then in the Titles of his own glory; and not only that, but he hath made those Titles so sacred and impetrable, that when we invocate can call upon him for his aid in the name of those Titles, as for example, for his death and passion, for his cruel scrubbings, and wounds, the Church doubteth not but that he heareth us more efficaciously, as it were by certain holy forcible words, of conjuration or obsecration, as Saint Paul termeth them, that is to say, for his death and passions sake, and therefore in the litanies and public Suffrages, and invocations of the Church, and obsecrations, whereby we beseech him to beare us for his painful death and passion, as well as for his glorious resurrection & Ascension; not doubting but that it is was pleasing to Christ or rather more, and that he will hear us so much the rather.

Which is as if Christ should say unto us: Through your sins were the cause of my sources death and passion, and through, as my Apostle Paul saith, with your sins you crucify me afresh, and through also the remembrance of hurts and wrongs amongst the sons of men commonly cause a hateful reflection upon the Authors thereof: yet I being the Son of God, will not do so, I will not only forgive you my death and passion, if you be penitent for your sins: but what soever you ask me by way of obsecration for the same, and in remembrance thereof, that is to say for my death and passion sake. it is so grateful unto me, that I will grant your requests so much the sooner, as if you had done me a great honor by being the cause of my death; as indeed you did by accident, because for that thing whereof your sins were the cause to wit, my dearth for you, my father exalted me, and gave me a name above all names, that in the name of Jesus every knew should bow in heaven, in earth, and under the earth; yet I do you not this favor aforesaid in regard of my own honor, but for my infinite love towards making, which made me sacrifice myself upon the cross for him, the very remembrance where of is always grateful unto me, and like a sweet a smelling sacrifice ever since.

So that when we desire any thing of God for, or by the death and passion of Christ, we desire it for that love he bare unto us in dying for us. And God granting our request, he doth, as Saint John saith, give grace for grace; that is to say, because he doth us one favor, therefore he doth us another. Or we may mean this, we pray for any thing for the death and passion of Christ, we desire it for the sorrow we have that our sins should be the cause thereof.

The first conceit, is more proper to express the praise of Gods love towards us, but the other to express our humility, & unworthiness thereof, we may use either, as the spirit of God shall minister unto us.So that when we desire any thing of God for, or by the death and passion of Christ, we desire it for that love he bare unto us in dying for us. And God granting our request, he doth, as Saint John saith, give grace for grace; that is to say, because he doth us one favor, therefore he doth us another. Or we may mean this, we pray for any thing for the death and passion of Christ, we desire it for the sorrow we have that our sins should be the cause thereof.

The first conceit, is more proper to express the praise of Gods love towards us, but the other to express our humility, & unworthiness thereof, we may use either, as the spirit of God shall minister unto us.

 A Plaine Path-way To Heaven Thomas Hill 1634 


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