THE NINTH STATION

JESUS FALLS

A THIRD TIME

 

We adore you, O Christ,

and we bless you

Because by your holy cross

you have redeemed the world.

 

FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE

Book of Isaiah 53:7, 10-11

He was oppressed, ​

and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth;

when he makes himself

an offering for sin,

he shall see his offspring,

he shall prolong his days,

the will of the Lord

shall prosper in his hand;

he shall see the fruit of the travail

of his soul and be satisfied;

by his knowledge 

shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous;

and he shall bear their iniquities.

​

Let us contemplate Jesus

as he falls a third time.

Even with Simon's assistance,

the abuse during his arrest in the Garden,

the exhaustion from being imprisoned,

and the torture of the scourging

have all taken a toll on his body.

In that moment,

Jesus could have clung to the words 

of Psalm 41.

​

My enemies say of me in malice:

'When will he die,

and his name perish?'

And when one comes to see me,

he utters empty words.

​

But you, O Lord,

be gracious to me,

and raise me up,

that I may repay them!

By this I know 

that you are pleased with me,

in that my enemy has not

triumphed over me.

But you have upheld me

because of my integrity,

and set me in your presence forever.

Blessed be the Lord,

the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting!

- Psalm 41:5-6, 10-13

 

HYMN

Let me mingle tears with thee,

mourning Him who mourned for me,

all the days that I may live.

​