Stations
of the Cross |
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Station 7 -
Jesus falls a second time under the cross |
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| The Scripture Reading | |
| Genesis 9:20-24 20: Noah was the first tiller of the soil. He planted a vineyard; 21: and he drank of the wine, and became drunk, and lay uncovered in his tent. 22: And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23: Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it upon both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness. 24: Then Noah awoke from his wine |
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| The Mediation & Prayer | |
| The foundations of the thresholds
shook at the voice of the seraph who calls before the throne of Glory.
No one can stand in he presence of God unless he is cleansed and prepared.
The prophet is aware of his need of forgiveness; he knows that alone
and unaided he is lost. But the Lord sends the seraphim to touch him
with healing and purifying fire.
Thus purified the prophet is now prepared for the work the Lord has for him, as the minister of His word. Jesus stumbles under the weight of the cross and the foundations of the universe are shaken. He fell in order to raise us up; the purifying fire is brought not in tongs from the altar but in a heart burning with love for us. The path to our souls leads down from the throne to this terrible fall; for only when He has made Himself as low as we are can He raise us up. We think we are not so low, and try to avoid Him in our pride. But if we try to avoid the need for salvation we will fail to receive the forgiveness He has come to us to bring. How far away from the glorious vision of the Temple this seems; but in truth it is not so far. Only the infinitely powerful and glorious God could stoop so low to raise us up. He has not sent an angel however exalted to purify us: he has come Himself, and lies now at our feet. Father, humble our pride and self satisfaction. We are
not even able to emulate your humility, yet in our pride we set
ourselves up as greater than you are. Make us realise both our need
for salvation and the fact of your forgiveness for us, and then
send us out to do your work.
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