The Third Sorrowful Mystery - Crowning with Thorns

‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words may never hurt me.’ Deep down we all know that this saying is false. Being tormented is one of the most painful things we can experience. In situations that are very hostile to the Faith, it can be very difficult to stand out and admit to being a Christian. I remember times that I’ve tried to hide my faith for fear that I would be made fun of.
Jesus does not hide his face from shame or spitting. All they that saw Him laughed Him to scorn; they curled their lips, and shook their heads. Jesus goes through all this for the atonement of my sins. Yet there are still times that I remain silent and do not stand up for Christ. He does so much for me, but I do so little for Him.

Meditating on the crowning with thorns makes us realise that Christ is King, but a very different kind of king from kings of the world. This meditation is an opportunity to let go of the pride that makes us want to save our faces. We can pray that we might have the courage to share in Jesus’ humiliation, for in this suffering Jesus is truly with us.