The Ninth Station

The Third Fall
and Christ speaks

Completely drained of strength
I lie, collapsed, upon the cobblestones.
My body cannot move
No blows, no kicks,
can rouse it up.

And yet my will is mine.

And so is yours.

Know this, my other self,
your body may be broken,
but no force on earth
and none in hell
can take away your will.

Your will is yours.

and I replied

My Lord,
I see you take a moment's rest,
then rise and stagger on.
So I can do,
because my will is mine.

When all my strength is gone
and guilt and self-reproach
press me to earth and seem to hold me fast,
protect me from the sin of Judas
save me from despair!

Lord, never let me feel that any sin of mine
is greater than your love.
No matter what my past has been
I can begin anew.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.   Amen.