Pray The Rosary – The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery – The Crucifixion
In this the fifth sorrowful mystery, we ponder on Jesus’ death on the cross. We ponder him falling three times and getting up each time he fell. We reflect on Jesus’ determination to pay the price for our salvation, and on God, who’s love is absolutely amazing!
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery – The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
As we pray and meditate on the fifth sorrowful mystery, the crucifixion of Jesus, one is tempted to think that this is the end. It is far from finished. In fact, it is just the beginning.
33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals–one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[1] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Lk. 23:33-38)
Meditation on The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery – The Crucifixion
When ever I ponder on the fifth sorrowful mystery, I am always awestruck and dumbfounded when I think that Jesus, the Son of the Most High, All-Powerful and Eternal God came to earth in the form of a man with the sole purpose of redeeming the entire human race by dying on a cross. St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians wrote,
His state was divine yet he did not claim to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbling yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names, so that all beings in the heavens, on the earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus, and every tongue should acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2: 6-11)
There are saints who have described God as a crazy God for loving us mere insignificant, sinful creatures the way He does. St. Paul in his letter to the Romans also wrote,
6 When we were still helpless, at the appointed time, Christ died for the godless. 7 You could hardly find anyone ready to die even for someone upright; though it is just possible that, for a really good person, someone might undertake to die. 8 So it is proof of God’s own love for us, that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
(Romans 5: 6-8)
Prayer
Dear Mother Mary, you were with Jesus you son throughout his bitter agony. You understand the extent of God’s immeasurable love for us all having seen it being poured out lavishly on the cross on Calvary; pray for us Mother Mary that throughout our lives, we will be ever mindful of God’s absolutely amazing love. We also pray Mother Mary for those who do not know love; that through your powerful intercession, they will be brought into relations with Christ Jesus your son.
