Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/209

 who excited  their  cruelty. It was  revealed  to  St.  Brigit, a Saint  devoutly  attached  to  the  contemplation  of  Christ's sufferings,  that  the  number  of  stripes  exceeded  five  thousand; whilst  the  law  of  Moses  forbade  that  a  common malefactor should  receive  forty. Thus was  the  oracle  of Isaias  fulfilled:  "  From  the  sole  of  the  foot  unto  the  top of  the  head  there  is  no  soundness  therein:  wounds  and bruises  and  swelling  sores;  they  are  not  bound  up  nor dressed  nor  fomented  with  oil." (Is. i.  6.)

Imagine you  see  Christ  our  Lord  bound  to  the  pillar, surrounded by  a  company  of  insolent  soldiers,  and  examine the  general  circumstances  of  this  cruel  scene.

Who is  He  that  is  bound  to  the  pillar? The only  begotten Son  of  God,  "  the  splendor  of  His  glory  and  the figure  of  His  substance.  He  is  higher  than  heaven  and deeper  than  hell;  He  is  the  most  high  Creator,  almighty and  powerful  King,  and  greatly  to  be  feared,  who  sitteth upon  His  throne,  and  is  the  God  of  dominion." (Heb. i. 3;  Job  xi.  8;  Ecclus.  i.  8.)  Where  does  this  scene  take place? In the  midst  of  a  populous  city,  in  the  open court of  the  president,  in  presence  of  a  whole  legion  of soldiers,  and  the  populace  of  a  large  city.

With what  helps! He is  destitute  of  all  human  assistance. There was  no  one  to  appear  in  His  defence. "I looked about  and  there  was  none  to  help,  I  sought  and there  was  none  to  give  aid." (Is. lxiii.  5.)

Why does  He  suffer  all  this? To wash  away  your  sins with His  blood. He received  on  His  shoulders  stripes which you  have  deserved,  verifying  the  prediction  of  the