MEDITATIONS ON THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: And The Whole People Answered, Saying: His Blood Be Upon Us, And Upon Our Children.

PRETI, Mattia 

Pilate Washing his Hands 

1663

And the whole people answered, saying: His blood be upon us, and upon our Children.

Consider first the blind fury of envy: They do not deny him to be just, but whatsoever he be, they demand him to be crucified: and yet they may give courage to the fearful President, and hasten the death of this just man, they bind themselves & their posterity to most grievous miseries. This word wounded the heart of Christ our Lord, by which the people of God, who should have been delivered by his blood, desired the revenge thereof to light upon themselves.

Consider secondly, how great folly it is, to wish for that evil, whereof thou knows not the greatness. For if every sin deserved a great & grievous punishment, for the eschewing whereof this blood was shed; oh what a Hell is due for that sin, by which this blood was shed? They are like unto these bloody Jews, First, who nothing esteeming the future pains of hell (the greatness whereof they know not) continue in offending God with their sins. 2. Which undertake difficult matters without consideration. 3. Which load themselves with other mens sins, not weighing what will follow.

Consider 3. the bounty & goodness of God, who as according to the desire and request of Pilate he spared the Gentiles, so he dealt less severely with the Jews, then they required: for he received even many of them into favor and grace, & brought many thousands, of their posterity into faith & salvation. Do thou take heed, least thou through thy sins be guilty of the body & blood of our Lord: but pray that his blood may be upon thee and thy children, for thy salvation, and the remission of thy sin.

Fr. Francois Coster S.J.