The Mockery of Christ the King
In His Passion, Our Lord’s crowning with thorns was a mockery of His Kingship, done by those who did not know Him. Today, He is mocked by His own, who should know Him and should love Him. This is the mockery of Christ the King in this Passion of the Church.
“Then the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto Him the whole band; 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. And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews. And spitting upon Him, they took the reed, and struck His head. And bowing their knees, they adored Him.”
Even the pagan soldiers knew that a King must be invested with the symbols of his royalty, that is, draped with a royal mantle, crowned, and finally, given a scepter as a sign of his power and rule. And so the soldiers obliged this strange King, who had said “but now My kingdom is not from hence”. And so, what royal insignia might they find fitting?
The soldiers soon found a discarded scarlet rag of large enough size and after first ripping off His outer garment, they draped His now freshly bleeding shoulders in this dirty mockery of a robe. As we think on the vivid symbolism in this scene compare it to our words and actions – what homage do we offer to the King of Kings? A royal robe?
Now, the Roman soldiers clearly understood the necessity of the Crowning, for their gods were always crowned, Apollo with laurel, Bacchus with grape vines, Jupiter with gold. And so a crown fit for this King must be found.
And the Jews too, understood that their high priest wore a tiara when he offered the sacrifice. And did not their bridegroom according to their custom, wear a diadem at his wedding?
And we who watch this scene, we also recall that in those days a conqueror was often crowned to celebrate his victory; how much more so then, this King who by His death and resurrection will conquer sin and death!
What crown for this Son of Man, who told Pilate, “Thou sayest that I am a King” ?
What crown for this Priest, who sacrifices His own Body and Blood for the salvation of those He loves?
What crown for this Divine Bridegroom, about to redeem His Bride with His own Blood, giving His life for her that she may live?
Father Groenings tells us that no other mantle was befitting for the Redeemer of the world. He was the picture of the world’s sins, which were red as scarlet, but through Him were to become white as snow. The mantle should be red as a sign that His kingdom, founded in blood, was to be spread by means of blood, that is, by the blood of the apostles and of the martyrs. It was ragged and torn in token that, in imitation of Christ, His ministers would redeem the souls of men and subject them to Christ, not by means of gold and silver, but through the hardships of poverty.
ROME’S MOCKERY
Ed. Note: Those who have seized control of the Church have given a new meaning to the foul and ragged mantle with which the pagan soldiers humiliated our Lord Jesus Christ. For they have befouled His Church, befouled their red garments and humiliated this lovely Bride of Christ as never before in history. See here for a Lifesite News article on one example of Pope Francis’s choice of prelates. There are many others. Thus, they make a mockery of the true King of Kings!
Father Groenings explains the meaning of the thorns with which the soldiers, serving satan, crowned Our Lord:
The Almighty in His anger had cursed the earth. “Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee.” To remove from the earth this curse, this king must carry on His head upon the cross the signs of this curse. The ram also, which was to be immolated instead of Isaac, stuck fast by the horns amongst thorns and briars. The soldiers then, from mighty thorns with strong and sharp points, platted a crown in the form of a wreath or of a helmet and put it upon the head of Christ in such a violent manner that the blood poured forth from the forehead, the eyes and the cheeks.
When the head suffers, necessarily all the members suffer, because they are joined to the head in the unity of the body. Whoever, therefore, does not or will not suffer, cannot possibly belong to a body whose head is pierced with thorns.
Finally, there was presented to Christ a reed, as a scepter, to remind Him of all the misery, emptiness and evanescence of His kingly sway.
Think now, the reed was no afterthought; it was satan’s most exquisite touch, the pluperfect symbol of the “uselessness” of Christ’s sacrifice for sinners. For satan hates mankind with an intensity that no mere human can ever hope to begin to grasp. The idea that God would sacrifice His only begotten Son to save such as these loathsome sinners tortures satan eternally. Thus, the reed represents the indifference of mankind to the Divine Love.
The worst feature of the homage was its last scene. They bent their knees and acted as if they worshipped Him as their god. This false worship is what is being offered Our Lord today. By their actions and their sly, misleading phrases, the apostate prelates offer mockery to our Savior instead of reverence. How long, do you think, will the justice of God delay? One small point worth noting: the longer God delays His justice, the more severe it will be when it does, in fact, arrive.
Now is the time for us to console Him
Saint Francisco of Fatima often spent whole days in prayer, without food or drink, doing nothing but consoling his “hidden Jesus” in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
“I’ll stay here in the church, close to the hidden Jesus. … I would rather console Our Lord. Didn’t you notice how sad Our Lady was that last month, when she said that people must not offend Our Lord anymore, for He is already much offended? I would like to console Our Lord, and after that, convert sinners so that they won’t offend Our Lord any more.” (Venerable Francisco Marto of Fatima by Father Cirrincione)
From the mouths of babes…. Saint Francisco Marto, pray for us that we learn to follow your example and comfort Our Lord in this, the Passion of His Church.
The Crowning with Thorns is the Third Sorrowful Mystery and it should arouse in us a profound sense of awe at the unfathomable love Our Lord Jesus Christ has for us who are so unworthy. Now, as satan does his utmost to eradicate the glory and triumph of our Savior and His beloved Bride, the Church, we must comfort Him, adore Him, and yes, rejoice with Him, for justice is not far away!
[Father James Groenings’ The Passion of Jesus and Its Hidden Meaning is a book by TAN and is available in paperback or Kindle.](This article was first published here with peregrine’s assistance at ReturntoFatima.org in March, 2017. and has been updated several times since then)
Remember – Our Lady needs us to obey: First Saturdays of Reparation, daily rosary, at least 5 mysteries, wear her brown scapular and live your Total Consecration to her Immaculate Heart, offering daily duties in reparation and for the conversion of poor sinners
Open your hearts to the Lord and serve Him only: and He will free you from the hands of your enemies. With all your heart return to Him, and take away from your midst any strange gods” (I Kings 7:3)
† Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of our hearts, Mother of the Church, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of poor sinners, especially our Pontiff.
† Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come! Viva Cristo Rey!
†. St. Joseph, terror of demons, and strong protector of the Church, protect our priests!
† St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!
~ by evensong for love of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, King!
Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O Sacred Virgin, give me strength against thine enemies!
