V. Adoramus te Christe et benedicimus tibi (We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee)
R. Quia per Crucem tuam redemisti mundum (For by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.)
Everything has to be consummated. From this perspective we can also understand the threefold fall of Jesus. The imperfect and sinful world was to be redeemed in its entirety.
The threefold fall of Jesus reminds us of the threefold denial of His beloved disciple Peter.
Jesus takes all this into account by remaining silent, listening to God, bearing the sin of humanity and rising again under the weight of the cross. He continues on His way to the glorification of the Father. He will fulfil His mission for us, human beings, so that we may not perish and that He Himself may become our way, our truth and our life.
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” (Is 53:7).
For us, Jesus’ third fall means that if we have fallen, we must rise again in Him and continue with His help. Even when we feel that we can no longer go on, that everything is beyond us, we must not stop, but look to Jesus. He will give us the strength to take the next step, and He Himself will see us through to the end.
Prayer: “Lord, graciously grant us salvation and peace, that your Church, having overcome all obstacles and errors, may serve you in full freedom, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit and is God for ever and ever. Amen.”
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
