“‘Yes, with my spirit and with my blood, I redeem you, my well-beloved.’ Such is our king, who dies that we might live. He accepts humiliations and torture; a king in solidarity with those who suffer in their bodies and in their souls, those who endure all kinds of violence, disdain, oppression, threats, hunger, thirst, and poverty; in solidarity with those who believe in him as well as those who do not.” –Father Tony El Khoury
We can be conquerors of evil, in our own little lives too, despite the negativity that might come to us. We will leave the world a better place, for doing so.
Intention: In Jesus’ name, please bless America with a moral, law-abiding, and God-honoring citizenry, so that we are worthy of self-governance.
Tuesday: Alone With His Thoughts
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer,/ my God, my rock
of refuge!
—2 Samuel 22:2–3
Reflection:
The Lord Jesus, while in the garden for those few hours, was
subjected to the anxiety-laden expectation of what was to come:
the scourging, the ridicule, the blows, the crucifixion. He was
alone with His anticipation, thoughts and fear of all the disaster
that was about to befall Him. And yet, He still complied with
the Father’s will for Him and accepted His Cross.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I am not as strong as You in the face of
temptation. Please forgive me for all the times when I have been
fickle in my choice of whether to follow You or to follow the
ways of the world. Amen.
Tuesday: Conqueror
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain
all the day;/ we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through
him who loved us.
—Romans 8:35–37
Reflection:
The hostile contempt with which Jesus’s torturers did their
cruel scourging must have also bruised His heart. But He still
conquered sin and death through what He suffered.
Prayer:
My Supremely Sensitive Jesus, You were subjected to terrible
hatred and scorn during Your scourging. Please help me not to
take personally any words of derision that may come my way,
recognizing that they are irrelevant, and that You are with me.
Amen.
Tuesday: Cause of Justice and Blessing
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh
I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on
behalf of his body, which is the church.
—Colossians 1:24
Reflection:
Jesus spent His entire life thinking godly thoughts toward
His brothers and sisters and acting accordingly. Yet, He was
imprisoned on false charges, tortured and put to death on a
Cross. He suffered terribly for the sake of those same brothers
and sisters, including those close to Him who had turned
on Him.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Bruised for our Offenses, help me when I am
being judged to offer my suffering up to You, realizing that I
am helping Your cause of justice and blessing upon this planet.
Amen.
Tuesday: Pick Up Our Cross
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the
world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must
know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has
commanded me.
—John 14:30–31
Reflection:
The Father commanded His Son to carry His Cross, and in so
doing to redeem the world. No matter how He had to shuffle
and stumble along the way to Calvary, and no matter whether
the crowds expressed pity or taunts, Our Lord pressed on toward
His goal: the crucifixion, followed by the resurrection.
Prayer:
My precious Jesus, You told us that to be Your disciple, we
must pick up our cross and follow You. Oh, how often I have
wandered off that path, not knowing that I was moving further
and further from Your love. Grant to me the obedience to never
again stray far from Your footfalls, but stay close to You for the
rest of my life. Amen.
Tuesday: Pour Your Dew
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into
his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
—John 19:33–34
Reflection:
It is such a mystery that Jesus’s crucifixion and death allowed us
to be redeemed and to enter into eternal life, and also freed all
those holy souls who had gone before Him in the land of the
dead. We may never truly comprehend such a mystery, but it is
valuable to ponder it in our hearts.
Prayer:
Precious Blood of Christ, Stream of Mercy, please comfort and
encourage me during times of desolation or discouragement.
On my dryness, pour Your dew. Amen.
