by
Fr. John Keep

3rd Station:  Jesus Falls the First Time

Verse:  We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Response:  Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

This Cross will be the instrument of very great torture for Him, but it is the price of redemption from one single mortal sin.  Sin is hideous.  We never realize how heavily sin weighed on Our Lord, how heavily even small sins wounded and weighed Him down.  Now as He carries the Cross it is very heavy on His wounded shoulders and very awkward to grasp and hold, and He is weighed down with it and with immense sorrow.  After a short while He finds the burden too much to bear.
         
What a relief it would be just to lie there in the dust and rest, or fall asleep and forget for a time His sorrows.  But they kick and mock Him to get up again.  And unless He does take up the Cross to Calvary, mankind will suffer the penalty it so richly deserves.  He will never let anyone else be forced to fall under any cross.  He will never allow anyone to be tried beyond his powers.  So that His weakness may win strength for His people, He struggles up and takes up the Cross again and stumbles forward.  Will His people understand Him now?  Does no one understand at all?  Where are the disciples?  Where are His friends?  Where am I and where are you?  Today’s world is full of the sufferings of Christ.

(after a brief pause)

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.