 The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross My Jesus, it was with deep grief that Mary finally took You into her arms and saw all the wounds sin had inflicted upon You. Mary Magdalene looked upon Your dead Body with horror. Nicodemus, the man so full of human respect, who came to You by night, suddenly received the courage to help Joseph take you down from the Cross. You are once more surrounded by only a few followers. When loneliness and failure cross my path, let me think of this lonely moment and this total failure - failure in the eyes of men. How wrong they were - how mistaken their concept of success! The greatest act of love was given in desolation and the most successful mission accomplished and finished when all seemed lost. Is this not true in my life, dear Jesus? I judge my failures harshly. I demand perfection instead of holiness. My idea of success is for all to end well - according to my liking. Give to all men the grace to see that doing Your
Will is more important than success. If failure is
permitted for my greater good then teach me how to use it
to my advantage. Let me say as You once said, that to do
the Will of the Father is my food. Let not the standards
of this world take possession of me or destroy the good
You have set for me - to be Holy and to accomplish the
Father's Will with great love. Let me accept praise or
blame, success or failure with equal serenity. |
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