1. Jesus’ Sufferings Were Magnified
We know from Scripture that Jesus’ emotions were so heightened that He sweat blood. Hematidrosis causes capillaries to burst, producing tiny tears in His blood vessels, and His entire body became like an open wound. Every bruise, every whip lash, every spear prodding was magnified, making it even more painful than the brutal treatment He actually received. O my Jesus, may our love for You be magnified just as Your suffering was magnified for us.
2. Multiplication of Wounds
From the time Jesus was arrested, He was pushed, shoved, and beaten. The Scourging went on much longer than was normally allowed. Each blow from the metal scourges raised a swollen welt; then each new scourge opened the welts like smashing a grape, releasing a constant flow of blood onto His dirt-stained, sweaty back.
During the Carrying of the Cross, soldiers mercilessly whipped Him and prodded Him with spears, causing even more blood to flow. Those wounds then stuck to His toga, so when they stripped Jesus of His clothes, He gasped in pain as all those blood clots and scabs that had begun to form were torn open. O my Jesus, You bore hundreds of these hidden wounds out of love for each of us, for you and for me.
3. Jesus’ Eyes
Throughout the day, the crown of thorns caused a constant trickle of blood into His eyes, mixed with sweat, dust, and dirt. How much it troubles us when we get a speck of dirt in our eyes. It must have been a constant source of irritation for Jesus, unable to simply wipe His eyes.
That is why, in front of the impatient soldiers and shrieking crowd, Veronica’s wiping of His face was such a tremendous act of courage and kindness. And the flies, merciless flies, crawled across Jesus’ tortured face, into His nose and His eyes. O my Jesus, may I remember this whenever I have some minor problem.
4. Jesus’ Massive Shoulder Wound
Jesus revealed to St. Bernard that, “I had on My shoulder while I bore My cross, a grievous wound which was more painful than all the others and which is not recorded by men.”
Visualize an open gash torn into Jesus’ shoulder from the constant jarring of the rough cross. Every step, every stumble, every fall, the heavy cross tore into His flesh a horrendous wound which laid bare His very bones. Oh, Jesus. Oh, my Jesus.
5. Jesus’ Rejection by His Children — and Us
Saints have said that Jesus’ greatest pain was knowing that, despite His tremendous sacrifice, many souls would still turn away. He experienced some of the cruelest and most vicious taunts from the very people whose hearts He had previously touched. They screamed, they mocked, they spit, they poked and prodded and jeered, and they tore at His beard. He suffered abject humiliation from the very people that He loved.
Even today, Jesus is wounded by us, especially the spiritually lukewarm, as we turn away from His tremendous love, His fathomless mercy, which we celebrate today and too often take for granted. May our prayers be a comfort to our suffering Savior