A Lenten Practice

This is Day 16 of my 40 day Lenten blog.

Have you ever done something you really regretted. I have many, many, many times. But I think that the most regretful thing a person could have done, would have probably been to hurt Jesus, to whip him, crucify him, and mock him.

A Lenten practice I have is listening to Tomaso Albinoni's "Adagio in G Minor" while meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries or the Stations of the Cross. I imagine that I am in the crowd mocking Jesus as He passes with His cross. I imagine myself spitting on Him. I imagine myself forcing the crown of thorns over his head. I imagine myself scourging Him. I imagine myself nailing his hands and feet to the cross.

I feel pity for those who actually did those things because they must have regretted them. If not yet, they certainly will on the day of Judgment. And I would not want to be them. But am I not them? One of the points of the exercise is realizing that though I was not alive yet when Jesus was crucified, I am just as responsible for it as any of the people who actually hammered the nails, mocked Him, and whipped His back.

I regret my sins for so many reasons, but not the least is because each time I do it, it is like I'm spitting on Jesus, mocking Him, whipping Him, and driving the nails into his hands and feet. And it helps me to remind myself of it. Especially while listening to such a hauntingly sad and beautiful piece as "Adagio in G Minor," which I have embedded below.

Today's prayer: Lord, please have mercy on me and forgive my many sins. And please help strengthen me to not sin against you anymore.

R.C. VanLandingham lives in Florida with his wife and kids. He is the author of several books including the Christian fantasy books Peter Puckett & The Amulet of Eternity, Peter Puckett & the Enchanted Chalice, and Magdalene Hope & the Elves of Evermore.