Lord, may this day begin beneath Your cross, where from Your pierced Heart flow blood and water—the source of my hope and forgiveness.
Thank You for thinking of me and all Your disciples in that moment when You told them to let the others go. You protected them, even though You knew they would abandon You.
Protect me from my own weakness
Lord, I see Peter so clearly: first, bravely drawing his sword, full of human zeal, and then, only moments later, hiding and warming himself by the fire of Your enemies. In him, I see myself—in my quick temper and my cowardly retreat when I should be bearing witness to You.
“Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.” (John 18:27)
Forgive me, Lord, for all the times I also deny knowing You—by my actions, my words, or my silence, because I am afraid of what others might think.
Then they led You to Pilate, a man of authority who did not understand that Your kingdom was of a different kind. You confounded him, because Your power is not of this world, Your crown is not of gold, and Your servants do not fight with swords.
““What is truth?” retorted Pilate.” (John 18:38)
Lord, in a world full of lies, cynicism, and half-truths, help me always to seek You, who not only spoke the truth but are Truth itself.
Your authority is given from above
Pilate boasted of his small, earthly power to release or crucify You, but with calm authority, You put him in his place. You reminded him then, and You remind me today, that all power is merely borrowed from above.
“Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”” (John 19:11)
Let me be mindful today that everything I am and everything I have comes from the heavenly Father, and let me use it for good.
And then, the cross. The crown of thorns, the purple robe, the mockery… You, the King of the universe, stood before the world as a broken man. Yet even in unbearable pain, Your heart was full of love. You provided for Your mother and for the disciple whom You loved.
“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,”” (John 19:26)
Thank You for establishing a new family, the Church, at the foot of the cross, and for inviting me into it.
Everything was an offering, everything was born of love. Your thirst was not merely physical; it was a thirst for the salvation of souls, for the fulfillment of the Father’s will down to the last detail.
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)
Your death was not a defeat but the perfect sacrifice of Your love, through which You conquered sin and death and opened the gates to eternal life.
The soldier’s spear opened Your Heart, and from it flowed blood and water—the source of the sacraments, the source of life for me.
“and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”” (John 19:37)
Grant me the grace, Lord, to gaze upon You, my pierced Redeemer, with love and gratitude today and all the days of my life, and to find in Your wounds my healing, peace, and hope.
Amen.
he spoke of love and forgiveness, gave us hope and truth and in our thanks we hung him on a cross to die ,forgive us lord for we know what we do. your death was our salvation, come again and give us our final judgement, Amen.