For a more enriching experience,
go down on your knees to pray or take it one step further
and prostrate yourself (lay face down) on the floor while praying.
Father, at first it is tough to read today's Scripture and get mercy out of the whole thing but through reading several times it dawns on me that the Jews were more compassionate and merciful than the Romans and maybe because they had to be. It was common practice for the Romans to leave someone on the cross for days until the died and the vultures came to pick at them while pieces of their flesh fell to the ground for the dogs to eat. The Jews on the other hand needed the legs broken of the accused so close to Passover and it had to be done before sundown. The Romans broke the legs of the criminals on either side of Jesus to speed up their death, but when they came to Jesus, He had already expired so there was no need to break His legs and speed up His death. He was complete. The one Roman soldier decided to take one last stab at Him to make certain He was dead and pierced Jesus in the side, so His legs were not broken, which fulfilled a prophecy (Numbers 9:12). So in a sense, the Jews were more merciful than the Romans in their death penalties, but it was for their own benefit and Passover ritual more than it was real mercy.
Thank You Father for this bold awareness about mercy. I will take a closer look at my own level of mercy and contemplate how and when I reach my levels and how and when I make excuses for not having any mercy at all.
Through Jesus Christ's Most Precious Blood, Most Sacred Name and Most Holy Face, I thank You for this awareness. Amen~
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John
John 19:31-37
31 Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him;
33 but when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.
35 He who saw it has borne witness -- His testimony is True, and he knows that he tells the Truth -- that you also may believe.
36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of Him shall be broken."
37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they have pierced."
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ