The Third Station

Jesus Falls for the First Time

We adore You, O Christ and we praise You.

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Stumbling and falling are realities of life. Having the strength and courage to stand again is a choice.

Those whose steps are guided by the Lord,

Whose way God approves,

May stumble, but they will never fall

For the Lord holds their hand.

Ps. 37:23–24

The wounds on Your body are many. They have weakened You. The weight of the Cross bears down and Your legs betray You. The ground rises to meet You as You fall for the first time. How much You must ache: Your body and Your heart.

The road is long before me. Each step seems so small. Then without warning, I stumble and fall. Looking around, I see no one to help me. I feel the loneliness of Your children when they fall. I am filled with the pain they suffer from their shame and their sorrow. I understand what it is to feel alone. I understand why some find it hard to stand again. For them, I lift myself and walk on.

We pray. Dear Lord, at times we feel far from You. We are tried by temptation. We suffer illness and loss. We experience the pains of loneliness and depression. These are the moments when we stumble, and on occasion we fall. But in these times, like in all others, we are not really alone at all. You are waiting and watching over us. You are ready to hold our hand and help us to rise and walk again. We must only choose to call Your name.

Amen.

Falls come so unexpectedly. It's the shock that lingers in your memory. You're left feeling helpless, out of control, and totally alone. Now you know the world from a different perspective. Falling will forevermore be a possibility. But you can't live your life in fear of falling. You need to find a way to stand and walk again.

[excerpt from Stations of the Cross by Denise Hemrich-Skomer and Fr. Joachim Tyrtania. ©2009. Nihil Obstat: Charles McNamee, J.C.L. Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: Thomas G. Doran, D.D., J.C.D, Bishop of Rockford]