Knowledge of Jesus: Day Four

Crucifixion by Paolo Veronese, downloaded from Wikipedia

Day thirty at Fish Eaters.

Day thirty at The Catholic Company.

Today's readings come from the Gospel according to Matthew and Imitation of Christ (book II, chapter 12). The Catholic Company omitted the reading from Imitation, which is a shame, since I'm going to quote from it.

It is the Crucifixion, where some people mocked Jesus and reviled him. The soldiers watched and sat down (they had mocked him earlier when Jesus was crowned with thorns). Christ the King is on the cross. It's gruesome. We have put him on the cross.

The Imitation of Christ asks, "Why, then, do you fear to take up the cross when through it you can win a kingdom?" It points out, "To many the saying, 'Deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow Me,' seems hard, but it will be much harder to hear that final word: 'Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.'"

[...] In the cross is salvation, in the cross is life, in the cross is protection from enemies, in the cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness, in the cross is strength of mind, in the cross is joy of spirit, in the cross is highest virtue, in the cross is perfect holiness. There is no salvation of soul nor hope of everlasting life but in the cross.