The Third Station – Jesus Falls the First Time.
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Scripture: Yet it was our pain that He bore, our sufferings He endured.
We thought of him as stricken, struck down by God and afflicted,
But He was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity.
He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by His wounds we were healed (Is 53:4-5).
Jesus Falls the First Time
Meditation:“Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like those of the wine presser?
The wine press I have trodden alone, and of My people there was no one with Me.
I looked about, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that there was no one to lend support;
So My own arm brought about the victory.” (Is. 63:2,5).
From the Imitation of Christ, Book 2, Ch 7: Of the Love of Jesus above All Things
Blessed is the disciple who understands what it is to love Jesus, and to disregard himself for Jesus’ sake. The disciple must give up all treasured things for The Beloved, for Jesus will be loved alone above all things.
The love of created things is deceiving and unstable, but the love of Jesus is faithful and lasting. Whoever cleaves to created things will fall with their slipperiness. But the disciple who embraces Jesus will stand upright forever. Love Jesus and hold Him for your Friend, for He will not forsake you when all depart from you, nor will Jesus suffer you to perish in the end. You must one day be separated from everything here, whether you will it or not….
The Third Station
You will be quickly deceived if you look only upon the outward appearance of others, for if you seek your comfort and profit in them, you shall too often experience loss.
If you seek Jesus in all things you shall truly find Him, but if you seek yourself you shall also find yourself, but to your own hurt. For if you seek not Jesus you are more hurtful to yourself than all the world and all your adversaries.
Prayer: O God, to free us from sin and weakness your Son, Jesus Christ, embraced His fearful passion and crucifixion. Strengthen us in our baptismal resolutions by which we renounced sin and Satan, so that through the passion of this life’s sufferings we might rise to a new life of joyful service free of all selfishness. Amen.