Mar 31 2009
On The Way Of The Cross: 9th Station
11 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.
12 They requite me evil for good; my soul is forlorn.
13 But I, when they were sick — I wore sackcloth, I afflicted myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed on my bosom,
14 as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; I went about as one who laments his mother, bowed down and in mourning.
15 But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they gathered together against me; cripples whom I knew not slandered me without ceasing;
16 they impiously mocked more and more, gnashing at me with their teeth.
17 How long, O LORD, wilt thou look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my life from the lions!
18 Then I will thank thee in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise thee.
19 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.
20 For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they conceive words of deceit.
21 They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! our eyes have seen it!”
22 Thou hast seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!
23 Bestir thyself, and awake for my right, for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me!
25 Let them not say to themselves, “Aha, we have our heart’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 Let them be put to shame and confusion altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!
27 Let those who desire my vindication shout for joy and be glad, and say evermore, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my tongue shall tell of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. (Psalm 35)
"My Son! I came down from heaven for thy salvation; I took upon Me thy miseries not of necessity, but drawn by love that thou mightest learn patience and mightest bear temporal miseries without murmuring. For from the hour of My birth, until My death upon the Cross, I ceased not from bearing of sorrow; I had much lack of temporal things; I oftentimes heard many reproaches against Myself; I gently bore contradictions and hard words; I received ingratitude for benefits, blasphemies for My miracles, rebukes for My doctrine." 2. Lord, because Thou wast patient in Thy life, herein most of all fulfilling the commandment of Thy Father, it is well that I, miserable sinner, should patiently bear myself according to Thy will, and as long as Thou wilt have it so, should bear about with me for my salvation, the burden of this corruptible life. For although the present life seemeth burdensome, it is nevertheless already made very full of merit through Thy grace, and to those who are weak it becometh easier and brighter through Thy example and the footsteps of Thy saints; but it is also much more full of consolation than it was of old, under the old Testament, when the gate of heaven remained shut; and even the way to heaven seemed more obscure when so few cared to seek after the heavenly kingdom. But not even those who were then just and in the way of salvation were able, before Thy Passion and the ransom of Thy holy Death, to enter the kingdom of heaven. 3. Oh what great thanks am I bound to give Thee, who hast vouchsafed to show me and all faithful people the good and right way to Thine eternal kingdom, for Thy way is our way, and by holy patience we walk to Thee who art our Crown. If Thou hadst not gone before and taught us, who would care to follow? Oh, how far would they have gone backward if they had not beheld Thy glorious example! Behold we are still lukewarm, though we have heard of Thy many signs and discourses; what would become of us if we had not such a light to help us follow Thee? (Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ)
