Copyright © Larry Johnson – March 2022, Revised January 2023
As with all the mysteries of the Rosary, the Sorrowful Mysteries can be viewed from various perspectives. In this essay, I have decided to approach the matter from a viewpoint of gratitude; and I hope the following allegory and summary will provide sufficient illumination regarding my conclusions.
A group was gathered around table partaking of a secret meal at a certain venue. The mood was of a solemn nature, as there was a foreboding of arrest, incarceration, and perhaps death due to the group having participated in public commentary contrary to that determined as acceptable by the extant civic authorities. Presently, society was under authoritarian rule, and members of the group, the organiser in particular, had been rather outspoken about the lack of charitable, even violently vindictive, governance being implemented. The leader was proposing a new way of living for society: in short replacing the whip with the caring hand, along with a set of rules in which society could be charitably ordered. It seemed only a matter of time now that some members of the group, or the entire contingent, would be apprehended. The wait in fact was not long, and presently officers of the law descended. Initially the entire group was in the sights of the constabulary. However, as the organizer of the group, the leader offered himself and begged the authorities for free passage for the remaining contingent. Upon agreement he was hauled away to local headquarters for interrogation; the rest of the faction, quite relieved, scattered this way and that to seek anonymity.
The night was long and the interrogation intense, but the leader could not be convinced to relent. The authorities then began to consider the possibility of torture. They would display the process to the public, hoping that any sympathisers, particularly those of the inner circle, would reconsider. And so it began; the beatings, whippings and other brutalities were broadcast throughout society, and some members of the activist group watched in horror. Others sought obscurity. Finally, after no ground was gained by the authorities, the leader of the group was publicly executed.
Society remained at the status quo for many years, but gradually the teachings of the gentleman who was executed began to take hold. Many began to follow his ways and society generally became one of freedom rather than tyranny. Those that aligned themselves as followers of his way lived lives of relative peace and inner freedom. Those that chose other paths still had the freedom to do so; notwithstanding that the latter were always searching for, but never quite found, the satisfaction they sought.
As previously stated, I have chosen to approach the Sorrowful Mysteries from the aspect of gratitude. Hitherto I think it appropriate to pose some questions apropos the above allegory. In the first instance, if someone gave up their life so we could be physically free (as those group members who were allowed their liberty at the time of the arrest) and were able to obtain inner freedom and peace due to the leadership of such a person, do we not think that an element of gratitude would be appropriate. The same could be stated for the remainder of society and ensuing generations granted the benefit of freedoms and spiritual values resulting from the action. It would seem appropriate that some level of gratitude be forthcoming as due recognition of the effort in its attainment.
It is historical fact that a man named Jesus died on the Cross a little and two thousand years ago. I will not here venture into lengthy apologetics for the existence of Christ. Christians should be beyond doubt about the fact and steadfast in its truth. For the doubters there are many scholarly works regarding the Holy Bible’s authenticity and perhaps personal research will be satisfactory in providing some affirmation. Nevertheless, I will point to a testimony by Flavius Josephus (37 A.D to c. 100 A.D.[i] in his work ‘Antiquities of the Jews’. Josephus was a Jewish historian who also became a Roman citizen and unlike Christians, was not disposed to accepting Christ as Messiah. Notwithstanding, his testimony is as follows:
‘Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works – a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him did not forsake him, for he appeared live again on the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day’.[ii]
So, there is a precedent for a non-Christian affirming the fact of Jesus Christ’s existence.
Accordingly, we should now discuss the suffering undertaken by Jesus, commemorated in the Sorrowful Mysteries, which has opened up for those who wish to follow Him the opportunity of inner freedom and peace by living in the way that He instructed. We reflect upon the Agony in the Garden where Jesus wept tears of blood; where His friends at fell asleep during His agony, and shortly after deserted Him following His instruction to the authorities to arrest only Himself and free the apostles. How often we have fallen asleep on our commission to be faithful disciples or just abandoned Him completely. The Scourging: where without complaint Jesus accepted the punishment of whips, to the end of which were attached barbs, tearing his back and sides apart. How often do you and I complain over trifles? The Crowning with Thorns: where humiliation was dealt out to Him with a thorned vine pressed into His skull, accompanied by mockery and assault with spittle – again with no complaint. How often have we shrunk away from the defence of Christ and our Christian faith? Then the Carrying of the Cross where already opened wounds were further torn and new ones created. The jolt of the Cross as it swayed, pressing the thorns further into the head of Christ: drops of blood falling down the cross on to the pavement. How do we carry our cross? Finally, Christ’s death on the cross. Will we persevere to the end with our crosses until we fully die to ourselves in Christ? Where is our gratitude for these sorrowful mysteries? If you are like me, some serious reflection is required regarding our thanklessness. It may be the sin of which I am most guilty.
In conclusion, another example may be of some worth. Imagine you and others were taken hostage in a room by a few terrorists who were determined to execute people unless their demands were met. Perhaps your family are there as well. Suddenly you are chosen, but a stranger next to you interjects and offers himself instead. The terrorists accede to the request and the man is shot. Suppose that matters are then resolved and a conclusion reached – for the purposes of the exercise details of the resolution are not needed – and the group is set free. For the remainder of your life would you not think of this man every day? Would you not be grateful for his intervention to preserve your life? Well, in a fashion, this is what Christ did for us all to allow the possibility of eternal life in Heaven. I think to not at least give time for reflection on Christ during each day is undoubtedly ungrateful. Don’t you?
Possibly the reader is not convinced by the hypotheticals. In that case, why not consider real life examples. Perhaps we could consider more tangible scenarios: the person who rescues another who is drowning in the pool or on the beach, the fire fighter who saves somebody from a burning house, or the soldier who extricates civilians from a war zone where death is imminent. Are we saying that the receiver should not be grateful to the rescuer; perchance even a lifelong bond between the two? Jesus Christ did this for humankind to save us from eternal damnation. That is, if we desire to take up the offer.
[i] https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Flavius_Josephus#cite_note-1, Ref: Louis H. Feldman. Flavius Josephus, edited by Steve Mason (Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, 1999, ISBN 9004106790).
[ii] Josephus, The Complete Works Copyright ©1998 by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. The Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3, 63-64; and Appendix Dissertation 1.
