Seventh Station - Jesus Falls the Second Time

As before, I like to contemplate on the words of the station....

Jesus - Exhausted, Pain, Dying, Bleeding, Bruised, Example, Whipped

Falls - Stumbles, Collapses, Reopen Wounds,

Second - Again, Not the first,

Time - Marked, Prayer,

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

(GENUFLECT) All: Because.by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Pr.: It was our weaknesses that he carried, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one struck by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for 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 laid upon him the guilt of us all. (Is. 53, 4 to 6)

He took on our sins! Could you even imagine what a weight that would be? He could have stopped this, but chose do endure this agony for us - out of unconditional love. He never cried out, tried to blame circumstances, or uttered any anger toward his accusers. He was the sacrificial Lamb - crucified for our sins so that we might live with Him in eternity. Jesus, I am grateful that you shared in our weaknesses and accepted our guilt. I am whole heartily sorry for ever offending you and will try, with all that I am to not offend you again.

(KNEEL AND PAUSE) All: 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 and 9)

Pr.: Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, You shared in our weaknesses and accepted our guilt. Grant us the favor of rejoicing over our human weaknesses, so that in all we do, Your strength, dwelling in us may be shown to all men.

All: Amen.