Darts of Fire: OR PROOFS THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN US OF HIS LOVE IN THE WORK OF REDEMPTION by St. Alphonsus Liguori XVII. Ave, Rex Judaeorum. "Hail, King of the ]ews."-----Matt. xxvii. 29 Thus was our Redeemer scornfully saluted by the Roman soldiers. After having treated Him as a false king, and having crowned Him with thorns, they knelt before Him and called Him king of the Jews, and then, rising up with loud cries and laughter, they struck Him and spit in His face. St. Matthew writes: And platting a crown of thorns, they put it on His head.  . . . And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews; and spitting upon Him they took the reed and struck His head. And St. John adds, And they gave Him blows. [Matt. xxvii. 29; John, xix. 3]   O my Jesus! this barbarous crown that encircles Thy head, this vile reed that Thou dost hold in Thy hand, this torn purple garment that covers Thee with ridicule, make Thee known indeed as a king, but a king of love. The Jews will not acknowledge Thee for their king, and they say to Pilate, We have no King but Caesar. [John, xix. 15] My beloved Redeemer, if others will not have Thee for their king, I accept Thee, and desire that Thou shouldst be the only King of my soul. To Thee do I consecrate my whole self; dispose of me as Thou pleasest. For this end hast Thou endured contempt, so many sorrows, and death itself, to gain our hearts and to reign therein by Thy love. For this end Christ died, . . . that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. [Rom. xiv. 9] Make Thyself, therefore, master of my heart, O my be!oved King, and reign and exercise Thy sway there forever. Formerly I refused Thee for my Lord, that I might serve my passions; now I will be all Thine and Thee alone will I serve. Ah, bind me to Thee by Thy love, and make me always remember the bitter death that Thou hast willed to suffer for me. Ah, my King, my God, my love, my all, what do I wish for if not for Thee alone!-----Thee, God of my heart, and my portion forever. [Ps. lxxii. 26] O God of my heart! I love Thee; Thou art my portion, Thou art my only good. The Back spray takes you to the previous page and the Forward to the next.  E-Mail HOME-----------------------CHILDREN--------------------CHRISTMAS www.catholictradition.org/Christmas/darts-fire17.htm