The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time
Jesus Falls the Third Time
Scripture: Come, all who pass by the way, pay attention and see:
Is there any pain like My pain,which has been ruthlessly inflicted upon Me,
With which the LORD has tormented Me on the day of his blazing wrath?
From on high he hurled fire down into My very bones;
He spread out a net for My feet, and turned Me back.
He has left Me desolate, in misery all day long.
The yoke of My rebellions is bound together, fastened by his hand.
His yoke is upon My neck; he has made my strength fail.
The Lord has delivered me into the grip of those I cannot resist.
All my valiant warriors My Lord has cast away;
He proclaimed a feast against Me to crush My young men;
My Lord has trodden in the wine press virgin daughter Judah.
For these things I weep—My eyes! My eyes!
They stream with tears!
How far from me is anyone to comfort, anyone to restore My life.
My children are desolate; the enemy has prevailed.”
Meditation: From Book 3, Chapter 13, The Obedience of a Humble Subject after the Example of Jesus Christ.
“But what great matter is it if you, who are but dust and ashes (Gn 3:19), yield yourself for God’s sake to man, when I, the Almighty and the Most High, who created all things out of nothing, subjected Myself to man for your sake? I became the most humble and despised of men, that by My humility you might overcome your pride. Learn to obey, O dust! Learn to humble yourself, O earth and clay, and to bow yourself beneath the feet of all. Learn to crush your passions, and to yield yourself in all weakness.
Jesus Falls the Third Time.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Grant me Your grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me, and work in me, and persevere with me, even unto the end (Wis 9:10). Grant that I may always desire and wish whatever is most pleasing and dear to You. Let Your will be mine, and let my will always follow Yours, and entirely follow with it. May I choose and reject whatsoever You do; yes, let it be impossible for me to choose or reject except according to Your will. Amen (From From The Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 15).