pondering these things: the second and third sorrowful mysteries
the scourging at the pillar and the crowning with thorns
This is the second part in my series of rosary meditations, Pondering These Things. These meditations are not primarily theological, but connect the mysteries to my own life as a wife and mother. Allowing the mysteries of the rosary to speak to my own thoughts and experiences helped me develop a habit of praying the rosary (almost) daily.
You can find my reflection on the First Sorrowful Mystery, the Agony in the Garden, here:
My post about how I built a rosary habit is here:
I will be tying this series in with the liturgical seasons as follows:
January - March (Lent): Sorrowful Mysteries
April - June (Eastertide): Glorious Mysteries
July - September (Ordinary Time): Luminous Mysteries
October - December (Advent + Christmas): Joyful Mysteries
For instructions on how to pray the rosary, look here.
Now, for the second and third Sorrowful Mysteries:
The Second Sorrowful Mystery: the Scourging at the Pillar
Verses: Matthew 27: 26, Mark 15: 15, John 19: 1
Fruit of the mystery: Mortification
Traditionally prayed: Tuesdays and Fridays, and Sundays during Lent
The Scriptural references to the Scourging at the Pillar are brief and matter of fact: “Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him” (John 19: 1). Perhaps there seemed no reason to expound upon this, because scourging - a brutal lashing that often left victims with life-threatening wounds - was standard prior to crucifixion, and the Roman authorities used it routinely as a punishment for those who undermined them.
Christians are often reminded that we must suffer for our faith, often as a result of being at odds with the dominant belief system. There are many places in the world where Christians still suffer torture and execution for their beliefs, and we should remember them in our prayers. Most of us will not face this level of persecution, but we will all, at some point, have to pay a price for our faith, whether that be in strained relationships, in being compelled to choose a path that’s different to the easier “solutions” offered outside the Church, or in being mocked or misunderstood.
However, when I pray the second mystery, it tends to be the little “flagellations” of my vocation as a wife and mother that come to mind: the back-to-back illnesses of kids, the anxieties that weigh on me as I go about my days, the feeling underappreciated or unseen in all the little things that go into making family life run smoothly(ish). Sometimes it feels like I simply cannot take another lashing. It’s these moments that I try to bring to prayer in this mystery of the rosary, finding solidarity and strength in the weary, hurting Christ.
The Third Sorrowful Mystery: the Crowning with Thorns
Verses: Matthew 27: 29-31, Mark 15: 17-20, John 19: 2-7
Fruit of the mystery: Courage
Traditionally prayed: Tuesdays and Fridays, Sundays during Lent
Whilst scourging was a standard Roman punishment, the crowning with thorns was not. This was purely meant to humiliate Jesus. By adorning the beaten and bleeding Christ in a purple cloak - royal attire - and giving him a reed as a “sceptre”, this episode exemplifies what all Christians know: that whilst Jesus is mocked and reviled by those who don’t know him, he remains the King above kings, more humble yet infinitely more powerful than any ruler on Earth.
The fruit of this mystery is courage. It takes courage to truly live the belief that the way of Christ has more power than the ways of greed, lust, and power-hunger that ravage the world. It might mean refusing to align ourselves with people or beliefs that could make our lives easier and more comfortable, or accepting scorn for making choices that are seen as foolish or embarrassing. Christ crowned with thorns is a stark reminder that if we try to live in the ways that Jesus showed us, we should not expect to receive approval or accolades.
I’ll be back at the end of March, and the end of Lent, with the final part of the Sorrowful Mysteries series. To receive that, subscribe here:
Thank you for being here and for reading. If you’d like to offer a one time token of appreciation, you can do that here:
Thanks so much. Gina x