Introduction: For those who are on the road to salvation, the cross is power of God (1 Cor. 1:18). A true disciple is called to glory in the cross (Gal 6:14). We have to listen to the Lord who calls us to renounce ourselves, carry our crosses daily and follow him. If we want to persevere and be successful in our life of discipleship, we need to imitate Jesus who shed tears and prayed to the Father during his moment of intense agony (Heb 5:7). So, let us carry our cross with Him. Let us pray fervently that we may be faithful till the end as his true disciples.
1. Let us pray that we may become more understanding towards our neighbours.
Lord, you are the just one, yet you are judged by the unjust. You who once challenged the people to convict you of sin (Jn. 8:46) have become the victim of false accusation.
We who condemn the weaknesses of our neighbours, seldom look at ourselves. We consider even the good qualities of others as defects; on the other hand we justify even our defects as good qualities. Like the Pharisee, we believe ourselves to be blameless and drub the whole world as tax collectors. Like Martha we are frustrated and get angry with those who sit at your feet and listen to your word (Lk 10:40). Sometimes, we want to curtail the good things others do in your name. Like Simon, we not only while away our time ignoring our responsibility, but also fail to appreciate those who love you more. Like Judas we pretend to be concerned about the poor and criticize those who express their love and gratitude to you through their good deeds. Lord you who are going to come in power and might to judge the living and the dead, you understand our thoughts from afar and know every detail of our conduct . Help us to accept and understand our brothers and sisters with all their defects and goodness.
2. Let us pray that we may carry the Cross with Him.
Lord, they caught you like a thief. They abused you, spat on you, crowned you with thorns and mocked at you. You were subjected to unjust condemnation and a cross is laid on you. But you wish to fulfil the will of your Father who rejoices in you; you want to complete the work entrusted to you by Him. Therefore, with joy and courage you accept the Cross that is laid on you. You the Good Shepherd, are ready to lay down your life for us the sheep; no one can take away your life. You willingly give it so that we may have life. Lord, you invite us to deny ourselves and carry the Cross daily and follow you; here we come to do your will. May we carry our daily crosses willingly, that we may have life and give life to those who depend on us.
3. Let us pray that we may lift up those who have fallen :
Lord, you walk towards Calvary with so much difficulty. You did not eat and sleep for quite some time now; you are so tired and you fall down unable to bear the burden of the cross. It is not merely the wooden cross that pushes you down as much as the ingratitude of those who have benefited by your ministry and the infidelity of those disciples who have been trained by you. Judas loved money more than you; while his lips called you “master” and kissed you, his heart was enslaved to thirty silver coins. For Peter, saving his life became more important than denying you. Our ingratitude and unfaithfulness are the cause for so many people to fall. We have through our conduct disappointed our parents who gave us life, our teachers who enabled us to grow in knowledge and so many other well wishers who have great hope in us. Have mercy on us Lord! . Forgive us for the times we have denied and betrayed our loved ones. May we not be responsible for the fall of any; may we instead lift up through our love and concern those who have fallen.
4. Let us pray that we may become true disciples like Blessed Virgin Mary.
Lord, it is not by chance that you meet your Mother on the way to Calvary . Right from the day she said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word", you are the centre of her life. She lives for you and with you. She conceived you in her heart, before she conceived you in her womb. She listened to your word and practised it, and thus became an excellent example for us all. She rushed to help those who were in need. She prayed without ceasing. She sang the praises of the Almighty. She was thrilled to listen to your preaching and to see the signs you worked. As one who fulfills your will, she participates in your passion as the first and the complete disciple. She drinks your cup to the dregs. Lord, thank you for giving us your mother as our example and as our intercessor; help us to become good and faithful disciples like her.
5. Let us pray that we may help those who are in need
Lord, you said, “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest”(Mt 11:28). You yourself need rest now. Those who promised that they were ready to be imprisoned and even die for you (Lk 22:33) were not near you. The ones who shouted ’Crucify Him, Crucify Him’ and the others who were just watching the fun had no pity on you. It was only Simon who returns after a hard day’s work from the field who carries your cross. It is true that he assisted you out of compulsion. But how fortunate he is to carry your cross. In fact, your deep faith, unconditional love and forgiveness, marvelous patience and perseverance would have touched the heart of Simon and made him recognize you. Lord, help us to carry one another’s cross like Simon and give us the generous heart to help all those in need.
6. Let us pray that we may reduce the sufferings of the afflicted
Lord, as you went through towns and villages a few women provided you out of their resources(Lk. 8:1-3). Veronica might have been one of these and she cannot keep quiet, as she looks at your face which has apparently lost its beauty due to dust, sweat, blood, spittle; she is not afraid of the crowd or the soldiers with their spears and swords. Boldly she wipes your face and in gratitude you gift her the image of your merciful face. Lord, you ask us not to be discouraged in doing good. Give us the good heart to assist those who suffer in mind and body. Some of our brothers and sisters are glued to the wheel chair due to sickness or accidents. So many of our elderly people are bed ridden. There are others who are crushed down by so many burdens and are orphaned. Move us to do something to all these. It does not matter how much we do or give as much as how we give. You who appreciated the widow for her two copper coins will surely rejoice over our little deeds of kindness. Lord, help us to acknowledge your presence in our brothers and sisters. Make us realize that it would be sinful if we do not do good when we are able to do it(Jam.4:17). Help us to reduce the sufferings of others through our smile, encouraging words and small deeds.
7. Let us pray that we may persevere till the end
Lord, you do not have any more strength. Your vision is blurred and you stumble and fall. All the same you get up and continue. We marvel at your perseverance. We begin well but finish poorly. We do not have any more our first love and enthusiasm. We are neither hot nor cold but often tepid. When we listen to your word, we accept it willingly but become rootless and lose our hope in time of temptation. We are crushed by the chains of life, wealth and pleasures, then we die without becoming mature (Lk. 8:14). We do not realize like Peter that you have the words of eternal life (Jn 6:68) and we spend our life grumbling that it is difficult to accept your teaching (Jn.6:60). We refuse to respond to you who look at us with love and invite us to follow you (Mk 10:21-22). We cling on to those things that separate us from you and go away sorrowfully. Loving Lord, help us to realize with all our hearts that only those who persevere till the end will be saved.
8. Let us pray that we may think of those who suffer
Lord, women are your sensitive creatures - be they daughters, mothers, or sisters. Their heart aches as they see you unjustly condemned and brutally ill-treated. They follow you weeping and lamenting. You think of what is going to happen in a few years time to the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants and with concern you tell the women, "Do not weep for me rather for yourselves and for your children". Lord you are not blinded by your cross so as not to see others who suffer. You saved your disciples from arrest and said to the soldiers "If I am the one your are looking for, let these others go". When the high priest’s servant Malchus’ear was cut off, you touched him and healed him. You prayed for the forgiveness of those who persecuted you. You were very understanding towards your mother, your beloved disciple and the repentant thief as you hang on the cross. Even while you suffer, you continue to think of others who suffer and do all that you can to reduce their sufferings. Lord help us to follow you.
9. Let us pray that we may seek the companionship of the Lord in our loneliness
Lord, your shoulders are tired and weary. The hill you have to climb is a bit steep. You fall yet again under the weight of the cross; you look around; even amidst the crowd, loneliness haunts you . You find refuge, consolation and strength only in your Father. You persevere and continue your journey. You lived amidst us as one of us. You considered your disciples as your family. But most of them didn’t seem to understand your feelings. When you were sweating blood in Gethsemane they were sleeping, when you were arrested they deserted you and fled. So many changes , advancements take place in this noisy and busy world. Yet there are innumerable orphans, sick and old people who suffer loneliness. Even the powerful and the rich find themselves lonely. May our presence of concern give joy to those who are lonely. Lord you never desert us. Help us to seek your companionship constantly and find strength in loneliness.
10. Let us pray that we may always seek the approval of God
Lord, after falling on the ground so many times, you finally reached Golgotha. The soldiers mercilessly strip you of your garments. You are subjected to humiliation and you give up everything for our sake. Your garment serves as wage to those who persecute you. Now, you become a laughing stock without any respect among those around you. We all want to be respected. Even when we fall down we are more worried about the presence of others around than to attend to our bruises. You were a respected teacher. We can’t say with certainty that even your enemies did not respect you at all. You didn’t seek your own glory and your glory was conferred by your Father since you always did what pleases the Father. We have so many masks. We think that our dress, vehicle, buildings raise our dignity and respect. Make us realize that our real respect comes from our being rooted in your word and values and in our love for one another.
11. Let us pray that we may be more patient
Lord, now is the most gruesome moment of the way of the cross. The hands that were extended in love are nailed to the cross. The legs that walked many a mile to do good are crushed with the mallet. Now nothing can separate you from the cross. You bear the excruciating pain patiently. "Love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly”(Lk. 6:27ff) are not merely your preaching, you live those words as you are crucified. You have done nothing wrong and have spoken no deceit. You are insulted but you do not retaliate with insults nor threaten your persecutors(1Pet.2:22-23). We admire you patience. We lose our patience frequently not only in times of distress but also when our expectations prove futile. We have hurt our parents, brothers and sisters due to our impatience. Lord may we be inspired by your example and be more patient.
12. Let us pray that we may give our life for Jesus the Lord
Lord, you feel abandoned by all during your last moments. People do not allow you to die in peace. They ask you to save yourself and come down from the cross. You shout aloud "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me". The sun’s light fails, darkness comes over the whole land. The veil of the sanctuary is torn right down the middle. You cry out in a loud voice saying "Father into your hands, I commit my Spirit". You were rich yet for our sake you became poor. You emptied yourself taking the form of a slave becoming as human beings are. You humble yourself even to accepting death on the cross. You said, "No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends". When we can hardly find anyone ready to die even for someone who is upright you died for us sinners and reconcile us with the Father. Now we know what it means to love. Help us to appreciate your great love every moment of our life. Inspire us to lay down our life for you and our brothers and sisters.
13. Let us pray that we may safeguard our faith till the end
Lord, What an unbreakable bond of love between you and your mother! Even if she is not frequently mentioned during your public ministry, you are all the time in her heart and mind. She was the first person you saw as you slowly opened your eyes in Bethlehem as a small babe. As you close your eyes in Calvary little by little, she is also the last person that you see. When you were twelve, your mother accompanied you to Jerusalem to celebrate your first Pascha. As you now celebrate your last Pascha the same mother is present but she never imagined that you would be the sacrificial lamb. No mother can bear the loss of her child even if it is due to sickness or accident. How much more is the plight of your mother who sees you unjustly crucified unto death. Your crucifixion unto death is the sword that pierces her heart. She joins your sacrifice and suffers with you; She is not only the mother you have given us but also our sister and friend in our pilgrimage of faith. Help us to believe like her even if everything seems hopeless; for, “your mercies are not over, your deeds of faithful love not exhausted; every morning they are renewed; great is your faithfulness” (Lam.3:22-23).
14. Let us pray that we may rest after fulfilling our responsibility
Lord, you suffered all alone. Even your lifeless body is to some extent orphaned. When your cousin John the Baptist was beheaded, his disciples hurried to bury him. It is unfortunate that your close disciples did not have the courage and gratitude to do the same for you. Finally, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus do the needful. Now you sleep in peace since you accomplished the work entrusted by your Father. People could only bury your body but they can’t bury your high values. We too will one day have to die and be buried. May we fulfill the tasks you have given to us faithfully everyday. May you be glorified through the works of those who were the beneficiaries of our ministry. May we continue to live even after our death through our faith and good deeds. May we consider everyday as our last day and do your will and rest in you.
15. Let us pray that we may live for the Risen Lord
Lord, you are not the God of the dead but of the living. The tomb cannot imprison you who are the source of life everlasting. It is not deception but justice that finally triumphs. Your Father raises you from the dead. The empty tomb, your apparition to your dear ones, their bold witness to what they experienced and your abiding presence in every gathering of our communities proclaim emphatically that you are risen and victorious.
If you have not been raised, our faith is pointless… All that we suffer in the present time is nothing in comparison with the glory that is destined for us. Lord, make us realise the fleeting character of the sufferings that we need to endure in our pilgrimage of faith. Help us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks to you. May we not anymore live for ourselves but for you who died and were raised to life.
