De conspiratione Judaeorum contra Jesum, et de fuga ejus in civitatem Ephrem
The Devil Stirs the Hearts of the Leaders
As the time of his Passion approaches, the Lord's miracles—especially the raising of Lazarus—inflame the envy of the chief priests and Pharisees, who convene a council and resolve to kill him.
As the time drew near when the Lord Jesus had planned to accomplish our redemption through the pouring out of his own blood, the devil armed his followers and sharpened their hearts against the Lord himself, even to the point of killing him. And because of the good works of the Lord — but especially because of the raising of Lazarus — they burned more and more with envy, wasting away as though consumed by it.✦✦ Unable, then, to hold back their fury any longer, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled a council, in which Caiaphas prophesied, and they resolved to put to death the most innocent Lamb.✦✦✦
A Lament over the Wicked Council
The author breaks into a passionate series of exclamations and rhetorical questions, condemning the Sanhedrin's fury and challenging their senseless resolve to kill the Lord.
O wicked council! O worst leaders of the people, and most wicked counselors! What are you doing, wretched ones? What fury drives you to such madness? What kind of plan is this? What reason can there be for killing the Lord, your God?
The Lord Who Searches the Heart
Though the conspirators do not recognize him, Christ is present among them, knowing every word and searching every heart; yet the Father has handed him over to their hands so that he may die, rise again, and save his people.
Isn't he right there among you — the one you don't know — who understands every word you speak and searches the deepest places of your heart?✦ But it must happen this way, as was desired: his Father has handed him over into your hands. He will be killed by you — but not for your sake.✦ He will indeed die, and he will rise again, so that he may save his people — and you will perish.✦
Behold the Conspiracy and the Lord's Withdrawal
The wise Lord permits the full vent of his enemies' wrath, inviting the reader to contemplate both the wicked seething of the conspirators and the humble withdrawal of Jesus and his disciples.
That conspiracy had been made known, but the wise Lord, wishing to give full vent to the wrath and punishment of his servants — Look, then, at those wicked men seething in their wretched conspiracy. Look too at the Lord Jesus withdrawing, and his disciples with him, like the weak and the poor.
The Sorrow of the Holy Women
The reader is invited to imagine Magdalene's words and to contemplate the deep anguish burning in the heart of the Lord's mother as she seeks to understand why they want to kill him.
What do you suppose Magdalene said? But the mother of the Lord Jesus had a deep concern of heart — a burning desire to withdraw, to see and to hear the reason why they wanted to kill him.
Jesus Comforts and Departs
The Lady, her sisters, and Magdalene remain with the Lord, and after Jesus has comforted them all, he returns swiftly to his own path.
Here you can meditate on how the Lady and the sisters must have stayed behind with Magdalene, and the Lord. And how Jesus, having comforted them all, must have been swift in his return to his own.
Read the original Latin
Appropinquante tempore quo Dominus Jesus disposuerat nostram redemptionem per effnsionem proprii sanguinis operari, armavit diabolus satellites suos, et acuit corda eorum contra ipsum Dominum usque ad occisionem ipsius, et ex bonis opcribus Domini, maxime autem propter suscitationem Lazari, magis ac magis accendebanlur, tanquam raagis invidia tabescentes. Non valentes igitur suum furorem protelare, collegerunt - Pontifices et Pharissei conciliura, in quo Caipha prophetante, dehberaverunt ipsura agnura innocentissimum occidere. 0 pravum concihum! 0 pessimi duces popuh, et consiharii nequissimi! Quid agitis miseri? Quis vos furor exagitat tantus? Quae ordinatio est haec? Quae causa occisionis Doraini Dei vestri?
Nonne ipse in raedio vestrum est, quem lamen nescitis, et intelhgit omnia verba vestra, et scrutatur renes et corda? Sed sic fieri oportet, ut desiderashs; in manibus vestris tradidit eum Pater suus: per vos occidetur, sed non pro vobis. Ipse quidem morietur, et resurget, ut salvet populum suum; et vos peribitis. Divulgatum fuit istud concihum, sed sapiens Dominus volens dare locura irae, et quissimorum servorum. Conspice ergo praedictos nelarios in suo conciho pessimo aestuantes. Conspice etiara Dorainum Jesum, simihter et discipulos recedentes, tanquam imbecilles et pauperes. Quid tu putas Magdalenam dixisse? Sed et quahs animi mater Doraini Jesu erat, cura siceura recedere videret, et audiret causam, quia volebant eum occidere?
Potes hic meditari Dominam et sorores tunc remansisse cum Magdalena, et Dom. inum Jesum eas omnes consolatum fuisse de cita sua reversione
Scripture echoes
- ↩John.11.47-John.11.53 — So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs." John.11.48 — If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. John.11.49 — But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You do not know anything at all." John.11.50 — You do not consider that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish. John.11.51 — Now he did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation— John.11.52 — and not for the nation only, but in order that he might also gather into one the children of God who are scattered. John.11.53 — So from that day on they plotted to kill him.
- ↩John.11.4 — When Jesus heard this, he said, "This illness does not lead to death. No, it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
- ↩John.11.49-John.11.50 — But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You do not know anything at all." John.11.50 — You do not consider that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.
- ↩John.1.29;1Pet.1.19 — The next day he sees Jesus coming toward him and says, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" 1Pet.1.19 — but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot
- ↩Matt.26.3-Matt.26.4;Mark.14.1 — Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas. Matt.26.4 — and they plotted together that they might seize Jesus by stealth and kill him Mark.14.1 — Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might seize him by stealth and kill him.
- ↩Jer.17.10 — I, the LORD, search the heart, test the kidneys, and give to each person according to their ways, according to the fruit of their deeds.
- ↩Acts.2.23 — This man, handed over by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you, by the hands of lawless men, crucified and killed.
- ↩John.11.50 — You do not consider that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.
Meditationes Vitae Christi (Pseudo-Bonaventure), Castilian court context companion
A scene a day, for life
Chosen Portion continues this rhythm: one short reading and prayer every morning, free on iOS
The Meditationes portioned Christ's life into daily scenes for lay meditation — the exact daily-portion model Chosen Portion delivers to your phone.
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