Lent day 9: The Way of the Cross

(Guest Post)

In The Way of the Cross, by St. Alphonsus Ligouri, we find this preparatory prayer:

My Lord, Jesus Christ, Thou hast made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many times unworthily abandoned Thee; but now I love Thee with my whole heart, and because I love Thee, I repent sincerely for having ever offended Thee. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany Thee on this journey. Thou goest to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to Thee.

Is there ever a time that we could worthily abandon Our Lord? Even though we know that there isn’t, does that really stop us? How much I wish I could say that were so for me! How easily the world pulls us in…I can’t even use the word ‘drags’ because we turn so willingly and voluntarily towards it, towards our comfort and pleasure. We call out with the Jews, “If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar’s friend.” (Jn 19:12) And, “We have no king but Caesar.” (Jn 19:15) We have chosen our king and we have chosen wrongly. We have chosen to shut away our God! We have accused, mocked, ridiculed, humiliated, and rejected Him, and even now condemn Him to death. I think that if we truly understood that our actions– our thoughts, words, and deeds– were crucifying our King, we would at least pause. It takes a serious effort to change habits. It takes serious effort to keep reality before our eyes especially when they are drawn across so many distracting things. Instead, draw them across something that will remind you of this intense reality: God loves you so much that had you been the only human in need of redemption, He would go through the agony and the suffering for you alone. What shall we render to the Lord for all He hath rendered unto us? All He is asking for is love returned.

My Jesus, I will live and die always united to Thee.