Good Friday: Matthew 27:45-46; John 19:24-30 ~ Jesus dies on the cross

The Way of the Cross

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentence — St Paul of the Cross

The way of the Cross is the road which leads to Paradise; it is the sure way to holiness.

The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love.

Station Twelve – Jesus dies on the cross

Station 12 - Jesus dies on the cross — Station 12 – Jesus dies on the cross

Matthew 27:45-46 ESV

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

John 19:24-30 ESV

So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Reflections:

As Jesus slowly sagged down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shot along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain. As He pushed Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He placed His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there was searing agony as the nail tore through the nerves. As the arms fatigued, great waves of cramps swept over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. Jesus fought to raise Himself, in order to get even one short breath. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

To the thief dying at His side: “Today thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.”

To His mother and His closest friend: “Woman, behold thy son” – “Behold thy mother.”

In the words of the psalm foretelling the death of Messiah, He cried: “My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

Approaching Easter: The Way of the Cross

Jesus died to give us life: all creatures are in sorrow: the sun is darkened, the earth trembles, the rocks split, the veil of the temple is rent; will only our heart remain harder than the rock? Let us be immersed in a sea of sorrow over the death of Jesus and let us say to Him: “Lord, we thank you for having died on the cross for our sins.”

–Saint Paul of the Cross

Prayer

Father God, You waited through the long hours of agony, when He was robbed even of the sense of Your love, Your presence, when the sin and disease and hatred and darkness overwhelmed Him so greatly. He was wounded for my transgressions.

Father, what love is this of His? What love is this of Yours that His dying love reflects? Your forgiveness for me, as we gaze upon His sacrificial death, is as truly and undeserved gift as the pardon He spoke to the dying thief. It is mine if I will only receive: He was wounded for my transgressions.
_____

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who by the will of the Father and the action of the Holy Spirit, Your death gave life to the world. Through the mysteries of Your Sacred Passion, deliver us from every fault and from every evil, and grant that we may ever be faithful to Your commandments and may never be separated from You Who lives and reigns forever and ever, Amen.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________

Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Good Friday: Matthew 27:33-35, 38; John 19:16-23 ~ Jesus is nailed to the cross

The Way of the Cross

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentence — St Paul of the Cross

The way of the Cross is the road which leads to Paradise; it is the sure way to holiness.

The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love.

Station Eleven – Jesus is nailed to the cross

Station 11 - Jesus is nailed to the cross — Station 11 – Jesus is nailed to the cross

Matthew 27:33-35, 38 ESV

And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.
_____

Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.

John 19:16-23 ESV

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’”

Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

Reflections:

The journey was at an end. Jesus was quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the wood. The soldier felt for the depression at the front of the wrist; he drove a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moved to the other side and repeated the action, being careful not to pull the arms to tightly. The title “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” was nailed into place, and the cross-bar lifted into position. The left foot was pressed backward against the right foot. With both feet extended, toes down, a nail was driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed.

The victim was now crucified. “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” He is our peace.

Approaching Easter: The Way of the Cross

We must glory in nothing else but in being crucified with Jesus and in bearing the marks of His wounds in our body. We must strive for great detachment from creatures in order to be united only with the Creator, through the various sufferings and pains of life, endured for the love of God, in patience, silence in the midst of all the sacrifices demanded by our state in life, and by practicing the virtues taught by our Divine Savior.

–Saint Paul of the Cross

Prayer

Jesus, our sin put the nails in Your hands. It was love that held You there.

The soldiers hoisted Your cross on high. You were their prisoner; but no one took Your life away from You. You gave it willingly, freely. It was love that held You there.

You were lifted high upon that cross, even as You had prophesied when You promised: “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Me.” It was love that held You there.
_____

Lord, be appeased by our prayers and graciously conform our will to Your own, even when it wishes to rebel against you. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Good Friday: Matthew 27:35 ~ Jesus is stripped of his garments

The Way of the Cross

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentence — St Paul of the Cross

The way of the Cross is the road which leads to Paradise; it is the sure way to holiness.

The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love.

Station Ten – Jesus is stripped of his garments

Station 10 - Jesus is stripped of His garments — Station 10 – Jesus is stripped of His garments

Matthew 27:35 ESV

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.

Reflections:

At the place of death the King of life is stripped of His clothes. Naked, He came into the world; naked, He is taken from the world. Vulnerable, exposed, God became man. He was a crying, helpless, dependent baby. Now, vulnerable, exposed, His heart, His life, His body all bared before the world, He will be hung up to be mocked. But God is not mocked – His very nakedness is a parable, a sacrament, a picture of the Father’s hurting heart exposed in love to us.

Approaching Easter: The Way of the Cross

Jesus permitted Himself to be despoiled of His garments on Calvary in order to teach us to renounce our own will when it is not conformable to the will of the Father. He wants us to strip ourselves of earthly affections and all inordinate love of the things of this world, so that we may clothe ourselves with the virtues of Christ.

–Saint Paul of the Cross

Prayer

Lord, You were stripped of the robes You wore, but You were the same – it didn’t change You. Things meant little to You; You never hid behind them. You showed us the Father’s heart, so open and broken: may we be open to You, and to each other.

Lord, for our sake You left the riches of heaven and became poor. You came within our reach. May we be open to You, and to each other.

You did not hold on to even the little You had left to call Your own. May we be open to You, and to each other.

The nakedness of God was exposed before the world. Lord, O lovely Christ, may we be open to You, and to each other.

No robe was left now upon Your tired shoulders, just a crown of mockery on Your head. You were still a King. You loved, and won rejection and pain – but You still loved. May we be open to You, and to each other.
_____

You protect those who hope in You, Lord; without You there is no strength, no holiness. Extend your mercy ever more and more to us; that drawn by You, we may use the good things of this world only in passing and not lose the treasures of heaven. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Good Friday: John 14:15-18 ~ Jesus falls a third time

The Way of the Cross

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentence — St Paul of the Cross

The way of the Cross is the road which leads to Paradise; it is the sure way to holiness.

The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love.

Station Nine – Jesus falls the third time

Station 9 - Jesus falls a third time — Station 9 – Jesus falls a third time

John 14:15-18 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

Reflections:

Jesus fell again. Oh God, how many times must I fall and pick up that cross again? As many as seven times? Or seventy times seven times? Forever; until this never-ending road is ended; until the impossible is completed, the unbearable borne through all eternity.

For the sake of My children, My sons, My loved ones, My bride, My people, I must go on. I will not, I must not, give up now. The way of sorrows, the way of pain, the way of self-renunciation, the way of My cross.

Approaching Easter: The Way of the Cross

Let us be glad when we are afflicted and the cross is most heavy on our shoulders, because then if we suffer with the patience of Christ we will begin to be His disciples.

–Saint Paul of the Cross

Prayer

How long the road You came for us, Lord, with Your smarting burden! O Lord, Your love has no limits.

You picked up the weight of Your cross, the weight of our sins. We are Your burden, an overwhelming burden; but that burden is sweet to You because of the love You also bear us, an over-whelming love. Your love has no limits.

Lord, I know You can forgive me: Your love has no limits.
_____

O Lord, may our human weakness be sustained by Your merciful help, so that while our human nature is frail, it may be strengthened by Your divine clemency. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Good Friday: Luke 23:27; Matthew 25:35, 36-40 ~ Jesus speaks to the weeping women

The Way of the Cross

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentence — St Paul of the Cross

The way of the Cross is the road which leads to Paradise; it is the sure way to holiness.

The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love.

Station Eight – Jesus speaks to the weeping women

Station 8 - Jesus consoles the women — Station 8 – Jesus consoles the women

Luke 23:27; Matthew 25:35, 36-40 ESV

And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.
_____

‘I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Reflections:

As Jesus continued, painfully stumbling along the road to Calvary, a group of women joined themselves to the procession, wailing in the manner normally considered appropriate for a funeral procession. But Jesus told them instead to cry out to God for themselves and their own children.

Approaching Easter: The Way of the Cross

The most holy Passion of Jesus Christ is the most efficacious means to convert obstinate sinners, because meditation on the sufferings of our Savior has power to root out vice and implant love and holy fear of God in the soul.

–Saint Paul of the Cross

Prayer

Lord, some of us are never far from tears, and some of us have forced ourselves not to cry. Bring our tears into Your captivity and direction, that they respond to Your voice. You have the words of eternal life.

Lord, You have the words of ewternal life.
_____

O God, you choose rather to be merciful than to be angry with those who hope in you. Grant that we may truly grieve for the evil we have done, and so deserve to obtain the grace of your consolation. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.