3rd Station: Jesus falls for the First Time

Station 3: Jesus falls for the First Time

   Jesus, beaten and tired falls from the weight of the cross that has been placed upon Him. Jesus shows His humanity by showing His human difficulties of carrying the physical cross. Yet, the cross was more then just physically heavy but was spiritually heavy as well. 

     Have you added to the weight of the cross by turning from Jesus and following your own path? Have you tried to help Jesus by following Him and turning away from sin so not to add to the weight of the cross? 

     We all have fallen on our faith journey. It is not in the falling that defines us but it is in the getting back up, picking up our cross and following Jesus again. We are human and we will fall at times. God knew this and when Jesus came down to earth He gave us the sacrament of Reconciliation. We are able to fall and ask for forgiveness. Jesus forgives us because we are asking from a contrite heart and knows that within us we want to do better and follow Him. Think as if you are walking and trip and fall and you get up and dust yourself off but sometimes you need something more then that quick dust off. You need to use soap to get out that grass stain. No matter how much you try you will walk around with that stain till you use the soap. Jesus through reconciliation is that sin remover that we all need at times. He helps us to be able to continue on.

       If we do not get back up we are allowing sin to control our lives and also those things in life that may have us down. It is not only sins that hold us down under the cross but those things we struggle with in our lives. It may not be something that cause us to sin but maybe an illness, pain, relationships, inner struggles, etc... Each of them we carry on that cross with our sins. The great thing is that when we accept Jesus as our Savior and turn to the sacrament of reconciliation our cross does become lighter. 

      Every day we get up and carry our cross. Somedays we carry it better then others and even sometimes we fall and need the strength to get back up and carry on. It is through Jesus’ grace we are able to do this. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may you always be able to stand after a fall and remember Jesus will be there for you. 

Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Lectionary: 229

Reading 1

DT 26:16-19

Moses spoke to the people, saying:

“This day the LORD, your God,

commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.

Be careful, then,

to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.

Today you are making this agreement with the LORD:

he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways

and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,

and to hearken to his voice.

And today the LORD is making this agreement with you:

you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you;

and provided you keep all his commandments,

he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory

above all other nations he has made,

and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,

as he promised.”

Responsorial Psalm

PS 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8

R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Blessed are they whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the LORD.

Blessed are they who observe his decrees,

who seek him with all their heart.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

You have commanded that your precepts

be diligently kept.

Oh, that I might be firm in the ways

of keeping your statutes!

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

I will give you thanks with an upright heart,

when I have learned your just ordinances.

I will keep your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Gospel

MT 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You have heard that it was said,

You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, love your enemies,

and pray for those who persecute you,

that you may be children of your heavenly Father,

for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,

and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?

Do not the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,

what is unusual about that?

Do not the pagans do the same?

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”