Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/707

 with  him  patiently  and  warned  him  lovingly,  had  washed  his  feet  and given him  His  own  Body  and  Blood  to  be  his  Food; and  yet  he  repaid his Master’s  love  with  the  basest  treachery,  placed  himself  at  the  head of His  enemies,  feigned  friendship  for  Him,  called  Him  Master,  and betrayed Him  with  a kiss! But Christians  behave  quite  as  basely  and ungratefully when  they  make  an  unworthy  Communion!

When we  contemplate  Jesus,  bound  and  taken prisoner, we  feel  as  if  we  could  cry  out  to  these  Jews:  “Hold! How can  you  bind  the  Hands  of  Him  Who  has  shed  such  blessings on you! Unbind Him,  for  He  is  your  God  Who  delivered  you from the  bondage  of  Egypt,  Who  went  before  you  in  a pillar of cloud,  and  led  you  into  the  Promised  Land. Woe to  you  if you  lay  a hand  on  Him!”  Thus  would  we  fain  cry  out,  but faith says  to  us:  “Spare  your  indignation! The Jewish  servants and pagan  soldiers  could  not  have  held  and  bound  Jesus  if  it had  not  been  for  your  sins! Be not  angry  with  those  men,  for they knew  not  what  they  did; but  rather  be  angry  with  yourself and your  sins,  and  bear  in  mind  that,  each  time  you  sin,  you are forging  new  bonds  to  bind  Jesus  and  lead  Him  away  to death!”

You are  quite  right  to  detest  the  black  ingratitude  of  Judas; but remember  how  often  you  too  have  been  ungrateful  to  your Creator, Redeemer  and  Sanctifier. Bear in  mind,  especially,  that every mortal  sin  is  a shameful  act  of  ingratitude  towards  God, your Father,  and  a dark  act  of  treachery  towards  Jesus,  your Redeemer.

HE troop  of  soldiers  and  servants  first  led  Him  bound before Annas, a former  High  Priest,  and  the  father-in-law  of