In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
A Reading from Hosea
6. 1-6
Thus saith the Lord: In their affliction they will rise early to Me: Come, and let us return to the Lord, for He hath taken us, and He will heal us, He will strike, and He will cure us. He will revive us after two days: on the third day He will raise us up and we shall live in His sight. We shall know and we shall follow on, that we may know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as the morning light and He will come to us as the early and the latter rain to the earth. What shall I do to thee, O Ephraim? What shall I do to thee, O Juda? Your mercy is as a morning cloud and as the dew that goeth away in the morning. For this reason have I hewed them by the Prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgements shall go forth as the light. For I desired mercy and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more than holocausts.
Habacuc 3
O Lord, I have heard Thy hearing and was afraid: I have considered Thy works and trembled.
In the midst of two animals Thou shalt be made known: when the years shall draw nigh Thou shalt be known: when the time shall come, Thou shalt be manifested.
When my soul shall be in trouble, Thou wilt remember mercy, even in Thy wrath.
God will come from Libanus, and the Holy One from the shady and thickly covered mountain.
His majesty covered the heavens: and the earth is full of His praise.
A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to John
When the chief priests, therefore, and the servants had seen Him, they cried out, saying: S. Crucify Him, crucify Him. C. Pilate saith to them: S. Take Him you, and crucify Him; for I find no cause in Him. C. The Jews answered him: S. We have a law, and according to the law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God. C. When Pilate, therefore, had heard this saying, he feared the more. And he entered into the hall again; and he said to Jesus: S. Whence art Thou? C. But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore saith to Him: S. Speakest Thou not to me? Knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and I have power to release Thee? C. Jesus answered: J. Thou shouldst not have any power against Me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that hath delivered Me to thee hath a greater sin. C. And from henceforth Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews cried out, saying: S. If thou release this Man, thou art not Caesar's friend. For whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. C. Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth and sat down in the judgment seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew Gabbatha. And it was Parasceve of the Pasch, about the sixth hour; and he saith to the Jews: S. Behold your King. C. But they cried out: S. Away with Him. Away with Him: Crucify Him. C. Pilate saith to them: S. Shall I crucify your King? C. The chief priests answered: S. We have no king but Caesar. C. Then, therefore, he delivered Him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him forth. And bearing His cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary but in Hebrew Golgotha
Ps 139:2-10, 14
Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.
Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; the venom of asps is under their lips.
Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me.
Who have proposed to supplant my steps. The proud have hidden a net for me.
And they have stretched out cords for a snare for my feet; they have laid for me a stumbling-block by the wayside.
I said to the Lord: Thou art my God. Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication.
O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: overshadow my head in the day of battle.
Give me not up from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me. Do not Thou forsake me, lest at any time they should triumph.
The head of them compassing me about: the labor of their lips shall overwhelm them.
But the just shall give glory to Thy Name: and the upright shall dwell with Thy countenance.
From Holy Rosary by St. Josemaria Escriva - Jesus Carries His Cross
Carrying His Cross, Jesus goes out toward Calvary, a place that in Hebrew is called Golgotha (John 19:17). —And they lay hold of a certain Simon of Cyrene, who is coming from a farm; and they make him take the Cross and carry it after Jesus (Luke 23:26).
The prophesy of Isaiah (53:12) has been fulfilled: cum sceleratis reputatus est, He was counted among the wicked: for two others, who were robbers, were led with Him to be put to death (Luke 23:32).
If anyone would follow me... Little friend: we are sad, living the Passion of Our Lord Jesus. —See how lovingly He embraces the Cross. —Learn from Him. —Jesus carries the Cross for you: you... carry it for Jesus.
But don't drag the Cross... Carry it squarely on your shoulder, because your Cross, if you carry it so, will not be just any Cross: it will be... the Holy Cross. Don't bear your Cross with resignation: resignation is not a generous word. Love the Cross. When you really love it, your Cross will be... a Cross, without a Cross.
And surely you, like Him, will find Mary on the way.
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