Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 21. De opprobriis ludaeorum et forti perseverantia lesu in cruce.

Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 21. De opprobriis ludaeorum et forti perseverantia lesu in cruce.

I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for the honor and joy of the heavenly citizens, for all the insults and blasphemies hurled at you by the treacherous Jews while you were on the cross. Indeed, from the greatest to the least, everyone opposed you, and like rabid dogs, they rushed to tear apart your innocence. They barked at Him like dogs, growled at Him with their teeth like lions, and hissed at Him with their tongues like serpents. They cursed with their lips, laughed with their faces, applauded with their hands, jumped with their feet, and rejoiced in their hearts, because they saw him affixed to the cross, whom they did not want to die without inflicting injuries upon him. So those who passed by mocked Him, like crazy and drunken men, filled with the bitterness of resentment and the poison of envy, shook their heads and shouted: "Ha! You who destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days!" The chief priests, along with the elders and scribes, who seemed to be governing the people and should have restrained others from wrongdoing, were instead mocking them more harshly. They stood proudly before the cross, with their heads held high, defiantly looking at you. And they mocked each other, hurling very shameful blasphemies. They say, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself.' The signs that were divinely performed and the benefits of healing graciously given to others were often misinterpreted and obscured, by whom they are known to have always envied. They urge the descent from the cross, falsely claiming they want to believe, while they often contradict those who truly believe. For they have instead built up slanders against you through greater deeds and miracles, rather than giving in to the truth. So they didn't intend to believe or seek salvation, but rather to provoke with malicious words. Finally, they were filled with bold defiance against the divinity, hurling impious words and, with a contemptuous voice, they called you the Son of God, saying: "He trusts in God; let Him deliver him if He wants to; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" O you most cruel and hard-hearted persecutors of the Son of God, why isn’t it enough for you to have committed such a horrific crime of crucifixion, but you still go on sinning more grievously by blaspheming and mocking the Son of God? Alas, alas, what are you doing? Why do you sharpen such a venomous tongue against the innocent and devout? In what did he sin, or in what ways did Christ ever harm you? Isn't it true that He did all things well, who made the deaf hear and the mute speak? Did He not illuminate your entire homeland with many remarkable signs and sweet teachings, and did He not also pray for His enemies? What evil has he deserved for this? Why do you repay evil for good and hatred for love? It would be more fitting for you to weep over such a great sin than to laugh in front of the Crucified One. But instead of feeling pain, you don't notice or care. Indeed, there is no true compassion, contrition, or remembrance of benefits in stubborn minds; rather, a demonic fury always pushes them toward worse things, preparing sharper stings and insults. Since they could no longer pursue him with swords and clubs, they began to attack him with sharper words. Similarly, the soldiers, who were executors of all wickedness, swollen with secular honor and ignorant of divine law, corrupted by the favor and encouragement of the rulers, drew closer and mocked him, offering vinegar and saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." O foolish soldiers, degenerate in actions and morals, who taught you to fight like this against God? It's not the work of noble men to pursue the pious, to strip the poor, to leave the naked stripped, to tear apart clothing, to mock the Crucified, to offer vinegar to the God who is about to die—something that every human being shudders to drink. But you cannot harm Christ; for wisdom conquers malice, and the patience of Jesus is not worn out by injuries. But the criminal hanging beside him, hardened in his wickedness, mocked him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" Alas, the wretched man fell into contempt and the depths of evil, and he who should have sought forgiveness for his sins insulted you, the giver of mercy. Therefore, the wretched one, in despair, died and perished most miserably. I praise and glorify you for your unwavering strength while you were lifted up on the cross, for which you did not consent to descend because of any insults or flattering promises, so that you would abandon it for a brief moment, which you once willingly ascended. Indeed, you firmly held the place you took on out of love for piety, to remain there and to die until the end, and you wished to complete the good work you began with a more admirable conclusion. You taught others to persevere in good works, and you yourself set the example by making your own profession of obedience on the cross, which you firmly established as something to be followed by all who come after you. Now come to the tree of the Crucified, the one who despises the world, a lover of the holy cross and a professor of the religious life. Be strong and steadfast in your holy purpose; it is Christ's work and the fulfillment of your salvation to stand firm, live in obedience, and persevere in the discipline. No one should draw you away from your religious life, from the path of perfection, from the pursuit of devout conversation, or from your vow of profession. Remember the words of the Apostle: Because Christ became obedient for us even to death, and that death was on a cross. So whatever the world promises, whatever the flesh flatters you with, no matter how fiercely the devil tempts you, or how much your friends dissuade you, or how much secular people mock you, don’t pay attention to it, don’t worry about it, but disregard it all. Stand firm in Christ, look up, lift your eyes to the Crucified One, who invites you with outstretched arms and promises eternal rewards for your brief labor. If, he said, you share in his sufferings, you will also share in his glory. O most constant and strongest athlete of Jesus Christ, most ardent lover and consecrator of the holy cross, grant me in you. Having taken on the religious life with a persevering will, I serve you without any weariness from the labor of pious emulation, but always strive to extend myself toward what lies ahead and, with my heart, to refute the temptations of the flesh and spiritual assaults, not fearing the reproaches of men in adversity nor seeking praise, turning my mind's eyes away from present things, seeking in you my only salvation a total refuge, and not retreating from the embrace of the blessed cross for any reason, whether from the flesh or displeasure, but under its protection, with its banner and sign, I aim to end my life happily through obedience. Amen.