V. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. (You may bow your head or genuflect)
R. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Read and Listen: (Mt 27:26-31)

Pilate released Barabbas to them. Jesus, however, he first had scourged; then he handed him over to be crucified. The procurator's soldiers took Jesus inside the praetorium and collected the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and wrapped him in a scarlet military cloak. Weaving a crown out of thorns they fixed it on his head, and stuck a reed on his right hand. Then they began to mock him by dropping to their knees before him, saying,, "All hail, king of the Jews!" They also spat at him. Afterward they took hold of the reed and kept striking him on his head. Finally, when they had finished making a fool of him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucifixion.

Reflect

Isn't it hurting and deeply painful to see Jesus being mocked and scourged for no sin of his? He was made to carry the crosses of the world, including mine and yours. How we wish we could have helped carry his cross and those of others! However, Jesus makes a more direct challenge to each of us. He said, "If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and follow in my steps. Whoever would preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will preserve it" (Mk 8:34-35). We start then by carrying our own crosses. Actually it is difficult to see what and where these crosses are. Because we do not want to carry them. It could be anyone, or anything outside me that irritates me, that gives me a bad day, that which hinders me to realize my own wants and desires. It could be my own self -- my anger, lust, defects, ambitions, and pride. They serve as burdens which weigh heavily on my life. Carry them in humility and love. Bring them to Jesus. He is the one who helps us to carry them. Then it is easier to help carry these and others' crosses.

Pray

Dear Jesus, I feel ashamed to see you carry my crosses. I am your cross because of my sins. But you still carry me to redeem me. With your grace, help me to move on to you, despite my weak self. Purify me of my malicious intentions and wicked actions. Lighten the burdens which I bear unnecessarily in my life. Like you, may I care and dare to help and carry the others who journey with me in this life. In loving the other as brother and sister, I do not even feel any heavy burden, but I experience joy and give consolation to the other. Lord, Your presence and guidance truly help me to love you and others. Amen. (You may say the Our Father before you go to the next station.)