Stations of the Cross

Jesus falls the first time, 

Isaiah 53: 4-7 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth, he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

The heavy load,

The path of trial,

The taunt of crowd,

The whip so vile.

This is the path,

This is the way,

To that last breath

And tortured death.

This is the way,

This is the road,

And this the day,

When love’s tale’s told.

How truth and Life

By grace is giv’n,

Through step of pain

And love’s pure aim.

Lord, as I  walk 

upon that road,

And see you stumble 

‘neath your load,

May also I 

through grace recall

To rise though falter, 

slip or fall.

© 2020 Paul Collings

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we know how embarrassing it is to fall—especially under the watchful eyes of those who despise us. Thinking of you falling perplexes us deeply. Yet seeing you on the ground under the weight of the cross reminds us how fully human you once were. Humanity and falling down we both share. Help us understand what it means to see you fall. We often cry out for your mercy after we ourselves fall down. Sometimes we cause our own demise; other times we, like you, are exhausted under the pressures of life. Thank you for being human like us. That gives us courage to face our own feeble humanity! Amen