Musings "On the Passion of Christ" According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas Kempis

It is hard for me to imagine what Jesus endured when he was sent back to Pilate and the crowd was given the choice of Barnabas or Jesus and they chose our innocent Jesus yelling "Away with him, Away with him, Crucify him"  Thomas Kempis writes "Lord Jesus Christ, my Friend, in your abundant charity I ask you to enkindle in my heart the grace of genuine compassion for your sufferings." And today that is my prayer too!  

Today's reading from "Jesus Listens" by Sarah Young also resonated with me today and I love the last line of her sharing "Lord, teach me how to trust in you at all times and in all circumstances."  It reminds me of Job and it's my recurring theme in my continuous rounds of the Surrender Novena!!

Musings "On the Passion of Christ" According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas Kempis

In this chapter, Jesus is brought before Herod who was once fascinated with Jesus and wanted Jesus to perform a miracle and when Jesus didn't comply he threw a tantrum and sent Jesus back to Pilate.  Can you even imagine what our Lord endured. I can't. He was interrogated, mocked and brutalized suffering through so much pain, hatred and evil treatment and all the while conducting himself with so much humility and patience.  

Musings "On the Passion of Christ" According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas Kempis

Gave myself some grace yesterday, I was having a tough day, my back and the pain radiating down my leg was more intense than usual. I think my nerves ae starting to wake up and some days are better than others and yesterday not my best. So I decided not to post on my vlog and to do reflections on both chapters today!

This book is drawing me in and helping me to see our Lord’s Passion in a way I’ve never experienced before. The details are graphic in ways we don’t often read or experience Jesus’s Passion, His love, His sacrifice and all that He endured for me is overwhelming and makes me want to draw closer and closer to His Sacred Heart that burns with love for me. And at the same time it wounds my soul that people can be so cruel and heartless to have treated Jesus they way they did. Fear, pride and insecurities ruled them and it makes me pause to examine my own fears, insecurities and pride.

Musings "On the Passion of Christ" According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas Kempis

I was mulling over what to say, lost for words after reading Chapter 9, and heartbroken at what Jesus endured for love of me/us. When I shared what I was reading and Jesus's example of meekness and humility in the face of such malice, hatred and brutality my beloved reminded me of a quote from St. John of the Cross "Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent." That my friends says it all!

Musings "On the Passion of Christ" According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas Kempis

Saint Peter denied Jesus three times as Jesus foretold.  The takeaway I got from this chapter was that when Peter fell, he quickly rose again.  That is key for me, I fall all the time, I fail all the time, but the key is to acknowledge my failings, repent when I have done or said something that I shouldn't have, hold myself accountable and quicky make things right asking the Lord for His grace.  Sometimes I can get caught up in self-doubt and insecurity and dwell in the muck, that's not what Jesus wants for me.  He wants me to take responsibility, make amends, brush it off and rise back up quickly keeping my focus on Him.  His grace is abundant!

Musings "On the Passion of Christ" According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas Kempis

How do I respond when met with accusations, lies and cruelty. Today's chapter 7 reflects on Jesus before Annas the high priest gives me a clear model to follow. Jesus ever calm in spirit and speech is gentle in his response to such cruelty. it is a reminder to me to some soul searching on how I react and my response when I’m met with tribulations, unkindness and cruelty. This journey with Thomas Kempis is challenging in a tough but good way, as it has me questioning my responses and is encouraging me to examine things I don't necessarily think about but that are helpful in my journey towards self knowledge. It is also difficult to read in that it paints the unsensitized and brutal picture of what our Lord endured for my sake at the hands of those He created.

Musings "On the Passion of Christ" According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas Kempis

I’m only on Chapter 6, but the deeper I get into this book, the more my eyes are open to Jesus and His Passion in a way I have never experienced before. Thomas Kempis has a way of writing and sharpening the lens of focus on the Lords Passion that gives way to different perspectives and insights that I had never thought of. And the more I read the more I find that this book is the perfect accompaniment for me this Lenten season.

Musings "On the Passion of Christ" According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas Kempis

One of the thing that really jumped out at me in this chapter is how compliant, meek and humble our Lord is to those who are treating him so horribly. Jesus chose to suffer such cruelty to give us an example of meekness and to fulfill Isaiah’s clear prophecy in Isaiah 53:7

Musings "On the Passion of Christ" According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas Kempis

I am loving my walk this Lent with this book.  Today was about the betray of Jesus by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.  And a powerful reminder to me of the model Jesus has given me in bearing with my trials and with those who have betrayed, slandered and hurt me and the ones I love.  The take away for me today is praying for greater patience, His patience and His grace to have the desire to endure even greater trials for love of Jesus.

Musings "On the Passion of Christ" According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas Kempis

I received so many nuggets of wisdom in today's chapter.  Trust, surrender seeking the Lord in all things and striving to follow His Will.  I am still mulling over it and I'm praying for His grace to lead me and help me follow and to redirect my path when I veer off course.