Third Station - Jesus falls for the first time

The terrible scourging, the loss of blood, the cross on the shoulders, the mockery of the crowd – the Lord collapses. His terrible fall brings us to those moments in our own lives when we stumble; to the personal struggles against illness, when we feel overwhelmed or abandoned, amidst darkness and suffering. Times when we seem helpless, and our strength leaves us. Looking ahead to Easter, we learn that these hardships will not have the last word; that together with the Lord we can rise and move on – towards Golgotha – through the cross into the light of eternal happiness.

Expanding our hearts, we open our contemplation at this station to our fellow Christians who, as a small, silent, and often disadvantaged minority, live in places where the seed of salvation took root and bore fruit early on, such as in Turkey. The first Christian congregations were established here. It was here that Jesus’ disciples were called “Christians” for the first time. Also located in Turkey are the seven communities to which the Revelation of John is addressed, as well as the house of Mary, where she lived with John. St Paul preached here, and many martyrs gave their lives for the Gospel in cities such as Ephesus, Nicaea and Antioch, including St. Barbara, St. Margaret and the martyrs of Nicomedia.

The centuries-long history of faith in Turkey testifies to the alternation between fall and resurrection, between evangelization and persecution to the present day. At this station, we pray for the few Christians and for the brave missionaries remaining in Turkey and similar countries who are living a life of great challenge.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, we look to you as you collapse in great pain under the weight of the cross and, rising again, walking on. At this station, we pray for our brothers and sisters in Turkey and other places in the world where the Gospel was once powerfully proclaimed, but today only a minority is present, with a weak voice. Where Christianity seems to be crushed to the ground and Christians can only rise and go on with great effort. We ask you to strengthen these small Christian communities and to give them courage and hope so that they do not give up, but rise again and again, and continue strengthened in the Faith. May their courageous witness to Christ on their holy ground, despite all the difficulties, be an ever-increasing light in the darkness. Amen.