Jesus falls the second time

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

The pain of his wounds and the loss of blood increasing with every step, the legs of Jesus fail him again, and he falls to the ground.  “It was our weaknesses that he carried, our sufferings that he endured.  We thought of him as stricken, as one afflicted by God. But he was pierced by our offense, crushed by our sins; upon him was the punishment that makes us whole;  by his stripes we were healed.  We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord lay upon him the guilt of us all.”  (Is. 53: 4 – 6)

Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and uttered no cry.  When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, a grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood.  (Is. 53: 7  & 9)

Let us pray. Lord Jesus, You shared our broken humanity and accepted our guilt.  Help us see our human weaknesses as the places where Your strength and glory dwells and works in us.  Be our strength when we fall repeatedly and empower us to be with others in the valleys of their lives.  InSpirit us to bear our crosses each day as we walk in your footsteps.

Amen.

Processional Song:

We hold the death of the Lord, deep in our hearts;
Living, now we remain with Jesus the Christ.

Once we were people afraid, lost in the night.
Then by cross we were saved; death became living;
life from your giving.  We hold…

Stations of the Cross Images courtesy of carmelites.net