Earlier this week I had a vision: a clear vision of a Crown of Thorns. It happened as I was in deep meditation in the little chapel of our rectory. This Lent, one of my resolutions has been to be as silent as possible when praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. By silence, I mean total silence. As you know, the world's constant distractions make total silence quite a challenge, but it is one of the best ways to listen to God. What is God telling me through this SILENT GIFT OF A CROWN OF THORNS?

The main vision was a beautiful Crown of Thorns. First, it seemed to float alone up in the air. The crown was not moving at all. But there was some movement behind it, there were amazing colors changing from a deep blue into a bright red. In contrast, there were no sounds at all, TOTAL SILENCE! I felt at peace. I felt the presence of God. I can still see those deep blue colors, for me, they represent the calm and serenity of Heaven on earth. I can still see the bright reds, they remind me of the blood dripping from the head of Jesus as He wears His Crown of Thorns on the Way to Calvary.

Then after a while, I could see the emerging features of a human face below the Crown. Could this be the face of Jesus? Or could this be a face representing the face of every human being? Was Jesus telling me that like every human being, I am invited to wear the same crown of thorns that the soldiers put on His head to mock Him after his flagellation at the pillar?

Suddenly, I could feel some PAIN in my head. I could imagine Jesus putting a crown of thorns on my head. Every thorn was like a needle penetrating my head. But at the same time, there was a sense of JOY, a sense of being UNITED with Jesus in His sufferings, a sense of walking with Jesus on the Way to Calvary, wearing the same Crown of Thorns. Then I opened my eyes. I could no longer see Jesus, but I thanked Him for having given me this SILENT GIFT OF A CROWN OF THORNS. I will never forget that moment of mixed Pain and Joy.

The pain of every thorn entering my head reminds me of the many sufferings I have caused to others or myself through my sinfulness: lack of humility, fear of being humiliated, pursuit of recognition, ambition, temptations of the flesh, self-centeredness, aversion to conflicts, lack of assistance to those most in need, little crosses of daily life, doubts of not being loved by God and fear of not going to heaven at the time of judgment. All these thorns have come and gone during my long journey on earth: a roller-coaster of good times and bad times, of consolation and desolation, of joys and pains.

ST PAUL complained about the thorn that was in his flesh. Several times, he asked God to take away this thorn, but God decided it was better for Paul to keep that thorn, but God refused. That major thorn accepted by Paul can be seen as his Crown of Thorns. Suffering is an integral part of being a true disciple of Christ.  

I will conclude by quoting extensively from Pope Benedict XVI’s most powerful book "Jesus of Nazareth" when describing what preceded the final verdict of the Trial of Jesus before Pilate, a further dramatic and painful interlude in three acts.

"The third act is THE CROWNING WITH THORNS. The soldiers know that Jesus claims to be a king. But now, he is in their hands; now, it pleases them to HUMILIATE HIM, ... Him whose whole body is torn and wounded, they vest, as a caricature, with the tokens of imperial majesty: the purple robe, the CROWN PLAITED FROM THORNS, and the red scepter. They pay homage to him: Hail, King of the Jews; their homage consists of BLOWS TO HIS HEAD (Mt 27:28- 30, Mk 15:17-19; Jn 19:2-3).

Thus caricatured, Jesus is led to Pilate and Pilate presents Him to the crowd to all mankind: HERE IS THE MAN (Jn 19:5) ...In Jesus, it is MAN himself that is manifested, in him is displayed the SUFFERING OF ALL who are subject to violence, all the downtrodden. His suffering mirrors the inhumanity of worldly power, which so ruthlessly crushes the powerless. In him is reflected what we call SIN: this is what happens when MAN turns his back upon GOD and takes control over the world into his own hands.

There is another side to all this, though: Jesus' innermost dignity can't be taken from him. The HIDDEN GOD remains present within him. Ever since Jesus submitted to violence, it has been the WOUNDED, the victims of violence, who have been THE IMAGE OF GOD WHO CHOSE TO SUFFER FOR US. So, JESUS in the throes of HIS PASSION IS AN IMAGE OF HOPE, GOD IS ON THE SIDE OF THOSE WHO SUFFER."

I invite you to meditate on the above insights from Pope Benedict XVI. They give HOPE to all of us. They help us accept our daily sufferings as they make us closer to Jesus himself accepting the humiliation of the soldiers mocking him and crowning him with thorns. Reflect on your own humiliations. Reflect also on the times you have turned your back upon God. Reflect on your own sinfulness. Reflect on how great you have felt after being reconciled with God through the Sacrament of Penance, CONFESSION. If you have not come to Confession recently, this is the time. If you are in a state of grave (mortal) sin, go right now. Jesus is inviting you, do not procrastinate. This is the only way to find Peace now. This is the only way to lead you to HEAVEN. Deny yourself, accept your crown of thorns, take up your cross and follow Jesus. Detach yourself from the chains of sinfulness, the chains of addiction to sin. Attach yourself to the foot of the Cross where Jesus is dying for your sins. Stay at the foot of the Cross and you shall be saved! This is the place where Pain and Joy link us to Jesus forever!

One in Christ,

Fr. Alain