(The third in a series of meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary by Rev. Addisalem T. Mekonnen, Spiritual Director of the Philadelphia Senatus)
How does the worldly minded show their contempt for our Blessed Lord ?
We hear in the news a lot about how bullying seriously harms children and most especially teenagers. The definition of bullying is when an individual or a group of people with more power, repeatedly and intentionally cause hurt or harm to another person or group of people who feel helpless to respond. Those who are victims of bullying don’t usually report it because of fear of retaliation, or worse,they fear they will be ridiculed by someone who is in authority and not taken seriously. It seems that bullying happens for various reasons. Many teens in high school would ridicule others for not wearing some name brand fashionable shoes and clothing. This type of bullying would most likely end after that person conformed to their thought process regarding the vanities of the world. The worldly minded seeks out the weak in order to attack them because they believe this somehow makes them appear strong and superior to others. Therefore, bullies are insecure about their self worth, talents and ability to relate others who don’t share their worldly minded perspectives about their purposes in life. Bullies feed on the fears of others and experience a twisted joy when they are able to make someone who they believe to be weak suffer. Those who are bullied could be tempted to commit suicide or become a bully themselves by seeking revenge through deadly violence.
Bullying doesn’t disappear when someone becomes an adult so it is simply is expressed within the context of other organizations. It is not always the case, but it is possible for someone who identifies themselves strictly as a Liberal or Conservative Catholic could become a bully. Both terms and concepts of Liberalism and Conservatism are political terms that don’t apply to Theology. Judaism also had their own different organizations that Jews would identify themselves as such are the Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots. Prior to his conversion and because of his self-righteousness, St. Paul was a Pharisaical bully of sorts.But after he encountered Christ, he became a faithful disciple and apostle of Christ. After his conversion, he learned that it was through his weakness, that Christ could act most profoundly through him. St. Paul very soon found out what it felt like to be persecuted by foreigners and also by various Jewish sects including the Pharisees but yet he was able to preach the Gospel.
Even our Blessed Lord was bullied by Roman soldiers when they crowned Him with thorns, struck His face, spitted upon Him, and mocked Him as King of fools because they thought He was unable to resist their attacks. Our Blessed Lord was fully able to resist their attacks physically, but chose to resist their attacks by His patient peaceful disposition. These Roman soldiers who appear to be strong on the outside were in reality intensely weak because they couldn’t overcome suffering, temptations, the devil and the spirit of the world. If our Lord wanted to, He could have called His Legion of angels to fight for Him, but He wouldn’t because He is not a dictator but a Savior. Our Lord overcame evil with good and darkness with light, so that even bullies can realize that they too are loved by Him and it is His hope that they repent before the day of judgment.