OF CROWN, MITERS, AND HOT DOGS

Spiritual reflections on the crown of thorns often focus on the physical pain that it caused Jesus. One might picture two guards with mischievous glee, thinking that they had a riotous idea, sneaking away, the one goading the other into making a crown “for the so called king.” “We’ll make it out of the branches of this thorn bush,” he says with conspiratorial slyness and with great fervor they attack the dry bush, ripping at its branches and carefully weaving a crown careful lest they should puncture their own flesh with its thorns.

Soon back in front of the crowd and standing next to Jesus one of them, the one who had the idea originally, shouts something along the lines of, “Every king should have a crown shouldn’t he? What think you of this one?” As they cheer, the crown is slammed down upon the sacred head of Our Savior.

It is here that many speculate about the length and number of thorns, how deeply they must have dug into his scalp, the blood that escaped from His body and His helplessness in reaching up to ease His torment. But perhaps the physical pain is not the most insidious part of this cruel venture.

While not exactly denying His kingship, they instead ridicule His claim to kingship; make light of it, denying that it has any meaning. They do not listen or debate His ideas, they make fun of the man and destroy His message. It is a degrading and cheap yet effective way to silence a voice and discredit a person and destroy his dignity. How terribly frustrating it must be to have what you know is a good message and to have your credibility so wickedly destroyed that no amount of speaking will persuade anyone to take what you have to say seriously even if it be for their own good.

Alice Von Hildebrand stated, “(Ridicule) was, for example, the poison tool used against Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, making him the butt of cruel jokes. His noble message was doomed.”

Is this why Christ remained silent?

IN OTHER NEWS:

Bishop Lennon, the new bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland held his first Chrism Mass with his priests yesterday. It was a stunningly beautiful liturgy and with an equally moving message in his homily. He called his sons to fidelity to Christ, His Church, and Scripture and Tradition.

This was connected to his mentioning of his visit to all of the Catholic high schools in the diocese. During his visits he spoke with student representatives of each of the schools for a minimum of an hour. When asked what they want from their high schools, the students resolutely spoke of wanting to know what their faith teaches. They are confused but are willing to engage the faith fully IF WE GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED. Perhaps this is sign of good things to come from this bishop, especially in light of some things that will be happening over the Triduum:

Some of our Catholic high schools are scheduling games during Good Friday. In at least one case, it is a Catholic school against another Catholic school. Another school is scheduling an AWAY game for over the Easter weekend. Have they lost their collective minds? Have these schools who have students in them thirsting for the faith losing sight of our mission? What in the name of all get out (I’d love to be more forceful here) are they thinking? What more important day should families be together in their parish to celebrate than on the holiest day of the Christian calendar? I am furious.

That being said, the chancellor has refused requests to release people from fast and abstinence this Friday (kudos to him). Why do they want it? Because it is the home opener for the Cleveland Indians. Sheesh!