Way of the Cross 3
March 13, 2009
Jesus is Stripped of His Clothes
Reflection
Jesus arrives at Golgotha. The soldiers take away the cross-beam from his shoulders and neck. Jesus is relieved from this weight. He stands there motionless. Everyone around him is doing his business. He just waits. They move around.
Jesus looks up and sees the two thieves already in their place. They are screaming with pain. He looks down again and, keeping his eyes fixed to the ground, awaits his turn. Suddenly the soldiers came. He knew it was his time.
They take off his clothes and throw them in a heap nearby. Jesus is again humiliated. He stands there almost naked and empty handed. The bloodstained body shows the bruises and the open wounds of the lashes. He starts shivering as the northerly breeze chills his sweating body.
They place the cross-beam on the ground in front of him, and the soldiers begin discussing what to do with his garments: “Let’s not tear it,” they say to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” (Jn 19,24) In this way they fulfill what was written in the scriptures, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing”(Ps 22,18).
Jesus then lifts up his eyes to heaven completes the prayer: “But you, O Lord, be not far off! O my Strength, come quickly to help me!” (Ps 22,19).
Prayer
Dear Jesus, what a shameful spectacle they wanted to make of you! Some hours earlier during that same week, dear Lord, you yourself took off your cloak to wash the feet of your disciples. You told us then that we have to do the same as you were doing!
And now Lord, you left them undress you of your clothes, undress you of your dignity as a human being! You refuse to grasp and clutch. You stand wounded, broken and empty handed.
How could you bear all this, Lord? Lord, teach me how to do my utmost to serve the poor, the humble, the homeless, the less fortunate. Help me never to be a cause of any injustice against human dignity. Help me to live empty handed.
Lord, how can I not bring in front of your suffering heart the multitude of human beings who are held as slaves to day, who are left to die of hunger while we pile up rubbish dumps all over, the innocent children who are suffering because of the waring adults. Lord look at our misery and help us never to be a cause of misery to others!
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