“The sinner who has recovered the grace which he had lost has three reasons to be full of joy. He should rejoice that he did not die in his sins and face everlasting punishment. He should be glad because he has been restored to God’s favor though he merited it not. He should rejoice that he will be brought to glory if he perseveres in his newfound friendship.” Saint Anthony of Padua (+ 1231)
Intention: Lord, I praise You that You’re greater than any trouble I might encounter in life; you are bigger than any problem I could possibly have. Jesus, I trust in You!
Friday: Embraced Our Humanity
1st Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
Scripture:
While he was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front
was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus
to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son
of Man with a kiss?”
—Luke 22:47–48
Reflection:
When Jesus was in His agony, He confronted the powers of
darkness, and the human tendencies to do evil such as lying,
cheating, betraying pure love, lusting after others and other
tendencies of the “all me” ego. Against all this, He stood up for
Our Father’s practice of honoring the little one, and of forgiving
and loving unconditionally.
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, You suffered the betrayal of one of Your most
trusted disciples. In Your heart, You embraced our entire
humanity—including our tendency toward evil, that it would
always and forever be altered by Your divine love. Please assist
all policemen and policewomen to do their jobs well, stay safe
and keep the peace. Please send angels to protect them. Amen.
Friday: Scapegoat
2nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture:
Laying both hands on [the scapegoat’s] head, he shall confess
over it all the sinful faults and transgressions of the Israelites,
and so put them on the goat’s head. He shall then have it led
into the desert by an attendant.
—Leviticus 16:21
Reflection:
Jesus was scourged as a scapegoat, Who replaced us in all
our evils: original sin, detraction, theft, violence, torture,
adultery, etc.
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, You are the innocent victim who was accused
of our crimes and scourged for our sins, in order that “by his
stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5). In place of our deserts of
hate, fill the world with Your love. Amen.
Friday: Suffer in Solidarity
3rd Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning With Thorns
Scripture:
They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying, “Prophesy!
Who is it that struck you?” And they reviled him in saying
many other things against him.
—Luke 22:64–65
Reflection:
Christ witnessed to the truth, and said, “I am the way and the
truth and the life” (John 14:6). He received a crown of thorns
as He became the victim for all those who would lie against
the truth. All those who suffer ridicule, torture and murder for
witnessing to the truth suffer in solidarity with Him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Sun of Justice, You promised everlasting life to
everyone who witnesses to Your truth and stands with You. I
pray to be one of those. Amen.
Friday: Expressway to
Father’s Blessing
4th Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Scripture:
Even when I walk through a dark valley,/ I fear no harm for
you are at my side;/ your rod and staff give me courage.
—Psalm 23:4
Reflection:
In His journey to carry all our sins to the Cross, Jesus was
crushed by the weight of the Cross and fell several times, just
as He was crushed by the weight of our sins. But He kept
getting back up and moving toward His final goal—despite
the weight, despite the ridicule of the crowd—so determined
was He to save us from our sins. He could tell that the Father
was with Him.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, You changed the Way of the Cross into an
expressway to the Father’s blessing. Assist me to remember the
extraordinary value in carrying my cross, and to learn to even
cherish it. Amen.
Friday: God-shaped Hole
5th Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
Scripture:
When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to
myself.
—John 12:32
Reflection:
Because of original sin, we lost the bliss of solidarity with the
Father, creating a God-shaped hole inside of us. This hole
causes us to betray and abandon one another habitually. Jesus
filled up this hole, soothed our feelings of abandonment and
unworthiness and transformed it all on the Cross.
Prayer:
For our sake, Dear Jesus, You absorbed all our sufferings, even
to the point of feeling disconnected from the Father’s love while
You were on the Cross. In so doing, You drew us upward to
the Father with You, when You died. Help me to understand
this awe-inspiring mystery. Amen.
