The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time - Why are your clothes red, and your garments like those of the wine presser?

The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time

Reflection: 

If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love what is its own.   Because you are not of this world, I have chosen you out the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I have spoken to you:  No servant is greater than his Master. If they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. (Jn 15: 18-20).

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 trod them in my anger, and I trampled them down in My wrath;

Their blood spurted on My garments and stained all my clothes.

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, Chapter 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. 

One day you will be separated from everything here, whether you will it or not.

The Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross: "Master, where are you going?"

The Second Station
Jesus Carries His Cross

Reflection:

"Master, where are you going?" 

St. Peter's question from (John 13:36) is

Is answered by Pontius Pilate:

And Pilate said to the Jews, "Behold, your king!"

But they cried out, "Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!"

Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?"

The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

Then he handed Him over to them to be crucified.

And so they took Jesus and led him away, bearing the cross for Himself. (John 19:14-17)

Meditation:

Thomas prepares us for the Second Station of The Cross by showing us Christ’s invitation to take up our own Cross.  Thomas encourages us to be bold and willing. We must weigh our fear of suffering against the path of Christ's Cross.  Thomas reminds us that our struggle with self-denial is a principal obstacle to our salvation. Our Lord never tells us that the journey will be easy: He tells Peter (and us) that many will deny Him along The Way (John 13:38).

CHAPTER XII, Book 2:   Of the Royal Way of the Holy Cross

To many, this seems a hard saying: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow Me (Matt 16:24).”  But it will be much harder to hear that last word from Him: “Depart from me, you cursed, into eternal fire (Matt 25:41).”

For those who willingly hear the word of the Cross and follow it, they shall be afraid the hearing of eternal damnation. This sign of the Cross shall be in Heaven when the Lord comes to judge. Then all servants of the Cross, who in life have conformed themselves to the Crucified, shall draw near to Christ their Judge with great boldness (Gal 2:20).

The First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death - The Day of Eternity and of the Miseries of This Life.

The First Station:  Jesus is Condemned to Death.

"Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!'

Pilate addressed them a third time, 'What evil has this man done?

 I found him guilty of no capital crime. 

Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.'

 With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.

 So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished. Luke 23:20-25"

 Meditation: From Book 3, Chapter 48: The Day of Eternity and of the Miseries of This Life.

 Oh how I suffer inwardly, while with My mind I consider Heavenly things, and presently a crowd of worldly things rushes upon me while I pray.

 My God, be not far from Me (Ps 71:12), nor depart in wrath from Your Servant (Ps 27:9).

 Cast forth Your lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows,(Ps 144:6) and let all phantoms of the enemy be put to flight.

 Recall my senses unto You, cause Me to forget all worldly things; grant Me quickly to cast away and despise the imaginations of sin.

 Help me, O Eternal Truth,that no vanity may move Me. Come unto Me, O Heavenly Sweetness, and let all impurity flee from before Thy face.

 Pardon me also, and in Your will deal mercifully and gently with Me, so that whenever I pray, My thoughts are only of You; for I confess truly that I am continually distracted.