Station 7: Jesus falls a second time
Like a sapling he grew up in front of us, like a root in arid ground. Without beauty, without majesty, no looks to attract our eyes; a thing despised and rejected by all, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering, one to make people screen their faces. He was despised and we took no account of him…Harshly dealt with, he bore it humbly; he never opened his mouth, like a lamb that is led to the slaughter-house, like a sheep that is dumb before its shearers never opening its mouth.
Isaiah 53: 2 – 3, 7
Reflection: Jesus falls again. In spite of Simon’s help, Jesus stumbles once more. It is not the first time; it will not be the last. The smell of sweat in the heat of the afternoon is pungent; the curses of the soldiers are wild. There is something very exhausting in the midst of the struggle to continue the climb.
There may have been a woman in the crowd who remembers her own falls. She may have recalled vividly what it was like to be “caught in the very act of committing adultery.” She had done it before; she might very well do it again. But she had been caught and dragged before the Pharisees, some of these same men who were now yelling for the death of Jesus. They were ready to stone her. They had used her as a test for Jesus. He had calmly dismissed them with a word, “Who has no sin, let him cast the first stone.” When they were gone, he had looked up at her – would she ever forget that he had “looked up at her” from the place where he was kneeling in the dust? She had known then that she had the strength to pick herself up and never fall this way again.
Jesus is exhausted. We have been there in moments when we felt “stuck”, trapped, exhausted, and hopeless. Jesus sighs deeply, and then struggles to lift himself and his cross. With hearts grateful for the gift of walking with him, we follow Jesus.
Isaiah 53: 2 – 3, 7
Reflection: Jesus falls again. In spite of Simon’s help, Jesus stumbles once more. It is not the first time; it will not be the last. The smell of sweat in the heat of the afternoon is pungent; the curses of the soldiers are wild. There is something very exhausting in the midst of the struggle to continue the climb.
There may have been a woman in the crowd who remembers her own falls. She may have recalled vividly what it was like to be “caught in the very act of committing adultery.” She had done it before; she might very well do it again. But she had been caught and dragged before the Pharisees, some of these same men who were now yelling for the death of Jesus. They were ready to stone her. They had used her as a test for Jesus. He had calmly dismissed them with a word, “Who has no sin, let him cast the first stone.” When they were gone, he had looked up at her – would she ever forget that he had “looked up at her” from the place where he was kneeling in the dust? She had known then that she had the strength to pick herself up and never fall this way again.
Jesus is exhausted. We have been there in moments when we felt “stuck”, trapped, exhausted, and hopeless. Jesus sighs deeply, and then struggles to lift himself and his cross. With hearts grateful for the gift of walking with him, we follow Jesus.
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Prayer: Faithful Protector, I feel vulnerable. I am easy prey for those who can hurt me. Teach me how to protect myself without building walls that keep me from needed growth. Help me to have good boundaries. Shield me from harm. Draw me away from what can destroy me. Lead me toward what will encourage my gifts. May I become an ever more loving person.
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Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, AMEN.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, AMEN.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
Photo used under Creative Commons from ethnosax
