We adore you O Christ and we bless you
Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Luke 23:33
Jesus is not alone in being nailed to the cross; there are two others, criminals on either side. As the nails are driven in there is no going back. All three will meet the same fate; the fate of a criminal condemned to an excruciating death. Yet it is not only these two criminals who were nailed to the cross besides Jesus; we too are condemned to death in this world, our bodily death, daily deaths by sin, and our striving for death to our own wills that we may be joined to Christ in his death. If we share in Christ’s death we also come to share in his glorious resurrection; as he promised to the Penitent Thief, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
“You are to become this body, you are to be nailed: nailed to Christ’s sacrificial will. The nails that hold you are God’s commandments, your rules of life, prayers, confessions, communions regularly observed. Let us honour the nails for Christ’s sake, and pray that by the virtue of his passion they may hold fast.” (Austin Farrer)
What nails hold you fast to the crucified Christ?
May the crucified Christ help us to hold fast to him in his suffering.
May we die to sin and turn like the Penitent Thief, that He may remember us in his kingdom and receive us into the Father’s paradise.
Amen.
Revd Penny King, former Parish Assistant at St Chrysostom’s, Parish Priest at Newhay, Manchester Diocese.
Now move to the Twelfth Station.
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