Whether it is a physical torture, or an emotional torture or a psychological torture, it is a disgusting act.
Simply because all human beings are equal and no one is greater than another, and no one has the right to torture another.
Worst of all is when the torture is carried out with death as the final end. That is absolutely evil.
We have just heard how Jesus was scourged, tortured, nailed to the cross and then left to die on it.
It is not only a horrible evil act, but it is absolutely horrible when we understand the reality of the situation.
The reality is that, man is putting God to death.
God could have stopped it at any moment but yet God allowed Himself to be mercilessly tortured to death in the hands of man.
The effect of evil is to blind mankind from knowing what a horrible and disgusting act he is doing to God.
The effect of evil is to blind man from seeing that every act of evil done to another human being is done to God.
Because each human being is created in the image of God.
God is in each person. Every evil act done to a person is done to God.
And for every evil act committed by a person, the devil has taken control of that person and blinded him to the existence of God.
Yet for every evil that is committed, God responds with mercy and compassion.
On the cross, Jesus forgave His enemies when He said: Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.
As we pray the Solemn Intercessions later, let us be aware that we are in union with Jesus in His prayer on the cross.
Let us ask God to forgive us for the evil that we have done to other people and to cleanse us with the precious blood of Jesus.
As we come up later to venerate the cross, let us ask Jesus to protect us from all evil with the power of His cross