“We adore you O Christ and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”
“Jesus was forced to carry the cross on which he die. On his head was placed a crown of cruel thorns These represented the weight of all our crosses. What he must have felt as he first took it upon his shoulders! With each step he enters more deeply into our human experience. He walks in the path of human misery and suffering, and experiences its crushing weight.” Will we too not expect to carry our crosses?
“Jesus was not only put to death, but he was also executed in one of the most violent and painful ways possible: crucifixion. He suffered in silence as huge nails were pounded into his hands and feet.”
“That is why you must never underestimate the degree of suffering of any of your brothers or sisters. If you look only at their pain, you may wonder what they have to complain about. “I’ve had much worse,” you may say. But you cannot see their suffering. You don’t know how sensitive they are, how quickly their pain can become insufferable agony. Instead of judging, do what you can to relieve both their pain and their suffering.”
“After a painful journey, Christ finally arrives at the foot of Mount Calvary, only to fall once again. Even though he is crushed by the weight of the Cross, His love for us remains.”
“You may someday fall for a third, fourth, or fifth time and have no strength to get up. You will have to be picked up by others. Don’t let that lead to despair; it does not mean you are less than human. Do not let the reaction of those around you work to take away your dignity when you are flat on the ground and helpless. Despite their best intentions, others probably will be showing a mixture of pity, shock, disgust, and anxiety at the sight of your helplessness.”
“And through these days of penitence, and through your Passiontide, forever more, in life and death, O Lord with us abide. May we once this life of Suffering past, attain an Easter of unending joy at last.”
“Abide with me, fast falls the eventide, though darkness deepens, Lord with me abide, when other helpers fails and comforts flee, oh thou who changest not, abide with me .”
“These forty days of Lent, O Lord, with you we fast and pray; teach us to discipline our wills and follow Lord your way.” Amen!
“As you with Satan did contend, and did the victory win, O give us strength in You to fight, in you, to conquer sin. As thirst and hunger you have known, so teach us gracious Lord, to die to self and only live, by your most holy word.” Help us Lord!
“Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, and bathed in its own blood, while the firm mark of wrath divine, His soul in anguish stood.”
“But drops of grief can ne’er repay, the depth of love I owe, here Lord I give myself away, ’tis all that I can do. At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away, it was there by faith, I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.”
“Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die! Would he devote that sacred head for sinners such as I?”
“Was it for crimes that I have done, he groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!” Lord, when I think of all the wrongs that I have done, my spirit groans within me, to know that you had to endure all of this for my sins. Thank, you, Lord!
Let us have pity for our Savior who was so cruelly treated. He was stripped not just of His clothing, but of all His pride.
My innocent Jesus, was tormented, he endured grave sufferings when he was brutally stripped of his garments. His wounds were re-opened when his clothes were torn off his back. What did he do to deserve this cruel treatment? One song-writer said, ‘They poured contempt on all his pride’.
Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments. Imagine having a bandaged stripped from your broken skin hastily. Imagine the suffering of Jesus.
“Let us ponder for a moment how Jesus must have felt as he was violently stripped of His clothes by His executioners. The inner garments adhered to his lacerated flesh and the soldiers tore them off so roughly that the skin came with them.” My God, my God, my soul bleeds for you! Thank you, for all that you endured for my sake.
“Jesus Falls the Third Time! Consider how Jesus Christ fell for the third time. He was extremely weak and the cruelty of His executioners was excessive; they tried to hasten His steps though He hardly had strength to move.”
“Jesus, by the weakness You suffered in going to Calvary, give me enough strength to overcome all my weaknesses, and forgive me for all my evil passions which have led me to despise You. I love You, Jesus with all my heart and I am sorry for ever having offended You.”