I love you and wish you to know the desire of the Cross, to draw the hearts of all into the Heart of the Lord. The Cross—the Cross is the way. See now the second fall. See now the glory, the purification, the love—hidden. See now only the hatred, anger, blasphemy done upon your Lord. See the rage of those around Him trying to justify the actions that are about to ensue, and those of the soldiers and the crowd to this point. The point of redemption—near at hand. The point of sorrow now reached in depths of despair beyond hope—yet hope exists—for hope is never extinguished in the Heart of the Lord. The flicker of hope, the meaning of life—all lie in the Heart of the Lord, the Savior, Redeemer, Messiah.
I love you, child, and wish you to know the truth of the Cross, the reality of the Cross, the love of the Cross. Embrace it—always—embrace it in your heart. Embrace it in your mind. Embrace it in your soul—always. Yes.
Do this for me now: Imagine yourself as the Lord, being beaten, humiliated, scorned—retribution upon retribution being poured out upon your being. How do you feel? Feel now His love for you as we take this walk. Feel now His love for all as He is humiliated and scorned. Feel now His love. Feel now His fall. Again being beaten to the point of death, the Lord again falls under the weight of the Cross, the sins of the world. The Lord is redeemed only in heart by the knowledge His human heart is redemption for the world. Feel His mercy poured out on all. But now, child, live the Cross, the second fall, the humiliation, blasphemy, pain, anguish, heartache upon heartache, pierced by the sins, pierced by the Crown, pierced in heart—pierced through and through to the point of death. You fall—with Him. You see again His face in the dust, gravel gouging deeper the wounds inflicted previously on your Lord. Deeper and deeper—the pain is unbearable now—the pain blinds you. You see nothing but anguish and pain—no respite in sight—no one to help carry the burden. No one. You are alone—as your Lord. You are redeemed only in the end of this journey. You know not whether you can continue to the point of redemption. You feel only pain in your heart—wounded in spirit to the point of death of mankind.
In His heart child, the strength to carry on came only from the knowledge, "Thy Will Be Done." You are renewed briefly in spirit, enough to get up with help. Simon helps you and is flogged. Simon helps you in prayer. Your mother again is there in the distance—you remember her touch, her love. You get up—only in great agony, only in the despair given by the devil. You do not know how you can make it further. One more step and you may collapse again. None is there to help. You are there in spirit only. Feel as He feels, the pain of knowing it is His children, His beloved, who inflict on Him such pain and disgrace. Knowing these children are for whom He is to die. He would again for one—even one. Know this—always.
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Stations: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 R