Wednesday, March 27: Stations of the Cross

Begin your prayer time by lighting a candle or by ringing the opening bell in the right hand column at the website here. Allow the ringing of the bell to draw you into sacred space with God. Take a few deep breaths, breathing in God's love and presence, breathing out any distractions, plans or worries.

# 3 Jesus Stumbles

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
take me along that holy way
you once took to your death.
Take my mind, my memory,
above all, my reluctant heart,
and let me see what once you did
for love of me and all the world.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus—fully man, God incarnate, tempted in all ways like us, one who experienced hunger, thirst, and weariness, just like us—after being beaten, collapses under the weight of the cross, under the weight of what his ‘yes’ to God means for him. Jesus is one of us, human, beaten down, even stumbling; and yet, he continues, spurred on by love of God, trust in God and a deep love of for you and me. The weight of the cross and that which is soon to come weakens his body and may even trouble his mind and spirit, but his resolve is unaffected. Jesus continues to the place of the skull, to Golgotha.

Spend some time considering Jesus in his humanity, one who could feel just like you the emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual pain that life brings. See him stumble, the weight of cross forcing him to the ground, the dust kicking up. Hear the taunts of the crowd, the angry voices of the guards, to get up and keep going.

What do you want to say to Jesus? What are the feelings that arise within you as you consider Jesus and what he is going through? Share your feelings and thoughts with Jesus.

Closing:

I adore You, O Christ, and bless You, for by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world and You have redeemed me.

Jesus Christ Crucified. Have mercy on me.

For your journal: " We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses"....  How does today's passage help you to identify with Jesus?  Can you think of times and places in your life when you stumbled and fell under the weight of your burdens?  Who was there to help you?  What enabled to you to continue on?  Recall how it felt to fall and to need help.  Take a moment to identify with Jesus and the human weakness which he willingly took on himself so that we have a Savior who knows so well how we feel.