We must not pass over in silence what God did not
wish to be passed over in his scriptures, and it must be heard by you.
The Passion of Christ, as we know, happened but once: Christ died as a ransom, paid once for all, on behalf of our sins, he the innocent for us the guilty. We know also, with certainty, we believe without doubting, that Christ, now he has risen from the dead, cannot die anymore; death has no more power over him, as the Apostle tells us. Yet that we may not forget it because it has happened only once, the Church reminds us of it each year. Does Christ die as often as we celebrate Easter? Certainly not, but each year this reminder puts us, so to speak, present at what formerly took place, and arouses in us the same emotions as if we saw the Lord hanging on the Cross, not mocking, but believing in him.
As he hung on the Cross he was derided, now as he sits in heaven he is worshipped. But are there not still men who mock him, and so why should we be so angry with the Jews? At least if they mocked him, it was during his torments, it was before his triumph. And who is there therefore who still dares to mock Christ? Ah! would that it be only one or two or a few! All the chaff of his threshing floor mocks him, and the good grain sighs to see its Lord thus mocked. Let me sigh with you, for it is the time of mourning.
We are celebrating the Passion of our Lord. Yes, it is the time to sigh, to weep, to confess and to entreat; but which of us can mourn sufficiently for such suffering? Who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my eyes? cries the Prophet. Even if our eyes became springs of tears, it would not suffice.
See how he has suffered! and what has he gained by it?
In thee our fathers hoped; they hoped, and thou didst deliver them from the land of Egypt. How many others have prayed and have been delivered at once, without having had to wait for the future life! Job himself was given over to the devil and abandoned to corruption by worms, yet even in this life recovered health and received double for what he had lost. But our Lord was scourged; and no one came to his help. He was disfigured by spittle: no one came to his help. He was buffeted: no one came to his help. He was crowned with thorns: no one came to his help. He was lifted up on the Cross: no one delivered him. He cried: My God, My God, hast thou forsaken me? l No one helped him. Why, my brethren, why? What did he pay by so much suffering? What he paid was our ransom.
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