A Rosary Meditation: The Third Sorrowful Mystery, The Crowning With Thorns.
“And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand…” – Matthew 27:28-29.
Above everything else in this world we should desire entry into the Eternal Kingdom of God. Which is, I think, just another way of saying we ought to love God with all our hearts and desire Him more than anything. The two thoughts are, or at least should be, inseparable.
During his earthly ministry Jesus taught us to “count the cost”. “For which of you having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down, and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it … ” Luke 14:28, Douay-Rheims. That’s important, isn’t it? If we build a house or buy a car or whatever else it is we do we figure it into our budget first to see if it fits. If this is important in the physical realm how much more important is it in the spiritual? After all, the physical only lasts for a time. Moths eat away at things and rust consumes. But the spiritual lasts longer than what we think of as a lifetime. It lasts an eternal life time.
If we want to enter into the Kingdom of God the only way to do it is to follow the King. And that means we’ll follow in his steps, and THAT means we’ll end up being, at some time or other, in the same places he’s already been. We’ll have our own series of life events in following him that will tally with his. If we count our money before we build its just as important to count our money before we begin our trip. We don’t want to get caught short in building funds and we don’t want to end up stranded someplace between here and God’s Kingdom either.
Count on it. At some time during your walk with Christ you’ll get crowned. It won’t be pleasant, it will be painful. You’ll get your own reed for a scepter, you’ll receive your own kingly cloak. And you’ll be mocked. It happens all the time. Governments mock the followers of Christ (“No, you can’t pray in school, and don’t even think about bringing a Bible”, while their own coinage bears the words, “In God We Trust”.), individuals mock the people of God (“Did you hear the one about the Catholic priest and … ?”), the media … Well, you get the idea. There’s no safe haven in the world. And until Jesus returns? There never will be. And we may as well add all of this up now while budgeting.
“And may my God supply all your want, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
Just a thought … When you’re counting the cost? Don’t be discouraged. Please remember that it isn’t the balance in your checking account that matters. Its the balance in His.
LOVE IT!
🙂