Station III Jesus Falls the First Time

Tradition speaks of Jesus falling three times on his painful journey. Exhausted and overcome by the oppressive burden, he fell to the ground. St. Paul has spoken of the cross as being a stumbling block, as madness. But to those who are called, this broken Jesus is the Christ, the power and the wisdom of God. For "God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength"(I Cor. 1).

We all are burdened in mind and body. Illness and weariness, the pace of our days, the pressures of our responsibilities, the weight of our own sins are the cross we have to carry. Jesus speaks to us, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden light"(Mt. 11)?