Second reflection of the fifth week of Lent

In the fifth week of Lent, we allow ourselves to be challenged by the words of Blessed Anna Katharina Emmerick, inspired by visions of the painful Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ—visions on which the film The Passion is based and which… cannot leave us indifferent.

Jesus climbs Calvary bearing the cross

The Lord supported the heavy cross on his shoulder, helping himself with his right hand; with his left he repeatedly tried to lift the long robe that impeded his progress. He staggered at every step; his hands were wounded and swollen because of the brutality with which they had been tied; his face was swollen and bloody, his hair and beard caked with clotted blood. The cross and chains pressed the woolen robe against his body, reopening his wounds with great pain.
The four executioners pulled the ends of the ropes fastened to his belt from a great distance; two were in front and the other two behind, so that the Lord stumbled at every step, also because the ropes prevented him from lifting his robe.
Although around Jesus there was nothing but mockery and sarcasm, derision and cruelty, his half-extinguished gaze was full of compassion and expressed his forgiveness; his venerable lips moved gently as he raised his prayer to the Father.
Soldiers armed with spears flanked the sad procession.
Behind him came the two infamous thieves, dragged by ropes by four henchmen.
They had tied the thieves around the waist with ropes; the two infamous condemned men carried on their shoulders the crossbeams of the crosses, at the ends of which their arms were tied. They were nearly naked and drunk because of a drink given to them by their tormentors. The good thief was always very calm, while the other, wicked and insolent, did nothing but thrash about furiously. I heard him blaspheming and cursing.

How do I face the painful uphill climbs of my life?

I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow morning to continue reflecting together!