The Second Station: Jesus Takes Up His Cross

The Second Station: Jesus Takes Up His Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Scripture Reflection: He was spurned and avoided by people, a Man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from whom people hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem.

Yet it was our infirmities that He bore, our sufferings that He endured, while we thought of Him as stricken, as One smitten by God, and afflicted (Is 52:3-4).

Jesus instructs Thomas to take up his Cross

Meditation: At the Second Station, Thomas answers St. Peter’s question from John 13:36:  “Master, where are you going?” 

To which Our Lord replies: “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, though you will follow later.”

Jesus never tells us that His Way will be easy.  Rather, He tells us that many will deny Him (John 13:38).

Instead,Thomas prepares us with Christ’s invitation and gives us from the mouth of Jesus, an alternative route: to be bold and willing – weighing the fear of pain against the path that Christ’s cross will deliver; returning to the theme of self-denial as  the principal obstacle to our salvation. Our one true pain. Our one true fear.

Book 2: Of the Royal Way of the Holy Cross

CHRIST: Why do you fear to take up your cross, which leads to a kingdom?

In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection from enemies.

In the Cross is heavenly sweetness; in the Cross strength of mind; in the Cross joy of the spirit.

In the Cross the height of virtue; in the Cross perfection of holiness.

Take up your Cross and follow Me.

There is no health of the soul, no hope of eternal life, but in the Cross.

Prayer: Therefore, take up your cross and follow Jesus and you shall go into eternal life. Jesus went before you bearing His Cross and died for you upon the Cross, in order that you may also bear your cross and may love to be crucified upon it. For if you die with Him, you shall also live with Him, and if you are a companion of His sufferings you shall also be a partaker of His glory (2 Cor 1:7).