Mar 21 2009
On The Way Of The Cross: The Sixth Station
For other stations click on “The Way of the Cross” in the link field under this blogs header.
SIXTH STATION
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
V/. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
R/. Quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum. Because by your holy cross you have redemed the world.
From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. 53:2-3
He had no form or comeliness
that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces.
From the Book of Psalms. 42:2-3
As the deer longs for flowing streams
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirst for God,
for the living God.
MEDITATION
The face of Jesus is bathed with sweat,
streaming with blood,
covered with abusive spittle.
Who would dare draw near him?
A woman!
A woman steps out of the crowd,
keeping alight the lamp of our humanity,
… and wipes his Face
and finds his Face!
How many people today have no face!
How many people are relegated
to the margins of life,
exiled, forsaken,
by an apathy that kills the apathetic.
Only those afire with love are truly alive,
those who bend low before Christ who suffers
and awaits us in those who are suffering: today!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
a single step
and the world could change!
A single step,
and peace could return to families,
a single step,
and the needy would no longer be alone;
a single step,
and the suffering could feel a hand
reaching out to take their hand
… and bring healing to both.
A single step,
and the poor could find a place at table,
lifting the sadness haunting the tables of the selfish,
who find no joy in feasting alone.
Lord Jesus,
a single step is all it would take!
Help us to take that step,
for our world is slowly depleting
all its store of joy.
Help us, Lord!
All:
Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
Our Father, who art in heaven:
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
Hallowed by Thy Name:
adveniat regnum tuum;
Thy Kingdom come;
fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Thy will be done, on Earth, as it is in Heaven.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
Give us this day our daily bread;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
and forgive us our trespasses,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
and lead us not into temptation;
sed libera nos a malo.
but deliver us from evil.
Quis non posset contristari
piam matrem contemplari
dolentem cum Filio?
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