V. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise you
R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.
The Gospels do not record the "falls" of Jesus but surely he fell and probably more than three times. The weight of the cross, the loss of blood from the scourging and the crown of thorns, even the jeers of the crowd had to have contributed to the falls. All the more, our sinfulness caused the "Man of Sorrows" to fall; he rises once again to carry the cross, to reach Calvary.
When our sinfulness causes us to fall, we need to rise again. We sin more than three times in our lives and each time we need to rise again. He leads us beyond Calvary to the Resurrection. He promises us life eternal if only we embrace the Cross.
