Jesus Dies, Station XII

XII Jesus Dies
...Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
St. Mark 15:37

I

The eyes look down upon the ones which greet
them looking up. The crowd does mock and jeer.
Above the noisy mob some people hear
this tortured man who strains to breathe entreat
his Father to forgive them. Through the bleat
of this harassing herd his good words steer
accepting hearts of humbled pilgrims near
the God who walks this world with love to mete.
One on his right, another left- two thieves.
One joins the crowd in mocking him. One eyes
his Lord, "Remember me," in sin he grieves.
"Today with me you'll be in paradise."
A soldier laughing points above his head,
"Hic est rex Iudaeorum" he had read.

The soldiers mocked him too,
coming up to him offering him vinegar,
and saying, "If you are the king of the Jews,
save yourself."
Above him there was an inscription:
'This is the King of the Jews'.
St. Luke 23:36-38

Upon this raving carnival at noon
the sun prepares to reign, but light's obscured
and darkness spreads. The crass mob's mocking tune
goes mute as in their thoughts they're less assured.
The crowd thins under heaven's dismal skies.
And here upon the hill his mother stands
with one named John. For Jesus' pain, she cries.
The tears of sorrow stream across her hands.
Then He the fruit of your womb looks to you;
reveals to you the truth of all transpired,
"Woman, behold your son." Your heart, pierced through,
then knows He is the all of Love desired.
"Here is your Mother," Jesus says to John,
and we receive you, Queen, who bore Love's dawn.

Seeing his mother
and the disciple whom he loved standing near her
Jesus said to his mother, "Woman this is your son."
Then to the disciple he said,
"This is your mother."
And from that hour
the disciple took her into his home.
St. John 19:26,27

III
How long ago seems last night when alone
You prayed, when You embraced the Father's will
while your apostles dreamed. In somber tone
you gave your love to Who is Love. But still,
right now, why stands our God so far away?
How much must You endure? The sins of we,
this world entire, fall onto You our prey.
"Eloi' Eloi' lama' sabach'thani'?"
The sins that Love abhors you cleanse in thirst.
Just as the fuel-less lamp becomes unlit,
"It's finished," says your soul. Then last yet first,
"into your hands my spirit I commit."
From spear-pierced side the blood and water bled.
The holy one, the Son of God, was dead.

Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then the other. When they came to Jesus, they saw he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water. This is the evidence of one who saw it - true evidence, and he knows that what he says is true - and he gives it so that you may believe as well. Because all this happened to fulfill the words of scripture: not one bone of his will be broken; and again, in another place scripture says: They will look to the one whom they have pierced.
St John 19:32-37

  Station I: Jesus is Condemned   Station II: Jesus Accepts the Cross
  Station III: Jesus Falls the First Time   Station IV: Jesus Meets His Mother
  Station V: Simon of Cyrene Carries the Cross Station VI: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
  Station VII: Jesus Falls the Second Time   Station VIII: Jesus Meets the Women
  Station IX: Jesus Falls the Third Time   Station X: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Station XI: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross   Station XII: Jesus Dies
Station XIII: Jesus is Taken from the Cross   Station XIV: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb

Meditations on the Crucifixion

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