The Ninth Station
Jesus Falls the Third
Time
Reflection:
Consider the Third fall of Our Lord Jesus. His was at the end of his strength. His
executioners, relentless in their cruel punishments, even tired of beating
Him. Their blows fell on open flesh in
an attempt to hasten Our Lord to his crucifixion. With barely enough strength to move forward,
Our Lord falls again under the weight of the Cross. Yet He continued to follow
the will of the Father, in His journey to rescue us from our sins.
Meditation:
From
The Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 13
The
Obedience of a Humble Subject after the Example of Jesus Christ
"But what great matter is it if you, who
are but dust and ashes, yield yourself for God's sake to man, when I, the
Almighty and the Most High, who created all things out of nothing, subjected
Myself to man for your sake? I became
the most humble and despised of men, that by My humility you might
overcome
your pride. Learn to obey, O dust! Learn to humble yourself, O earth and clay,
and to bow yourself beneath the feet of all.
Learn to crush your passions, and to yield yourself in all weakness.
"Be zealous against yourself, but do not
allow pride to live within you, but make yourself so submissive and little,
that all may be able to walk over you, and tread you down as the clay in the
streets.
Pray:
Lord
Jesus Christ, Grant me Your grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me,
and work in me, and persevere with me, even unto the end (Wis 9:10). Grant that
I may always desire and wish whatever is most pleasing and dear to You. Let Your will be mine, and let my will always
follow Yours, and entirely follow with it.
May I choose and reject whatsoever You do; yes, let it be impossible for
me to choose or reject except according to Your will. Amen (From From The
Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 15).
