Station VII Jesus falls a second time

Isaiah 53:10-12
 
The Lord says,
“It was my will that he should suffer;
    his death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness.
And so he will see his descendants;
    he will live a long life,
    and through him my purpose will succeed.
After a life of suffering, he will again have joy;
    he will know that he did not suffer in vain.
My devoted servant, with whom I am pleased,
    will bear the punishment of many
    and for his sake I will forgive them.
And so I will give him a place of honor,
    a place among the great and powerful.
He willingly gave his life
    and shared the fate of evil men.
He took the place of many sinners
    and prayed that they might be forgiven.”

Psalm 31:11-12

All my enemies, and especially my neighbours,
    treat me with contempt.
Those who know me are afraid of me;
    when they see me in the street, they run away.
Everyone has forgotten me, as though I were dead;
    I am like something thrown away.
 
Prayer

Fallen One, down in the dust with the refuse,
you persevere in face of contempt and disdain.
We pray for all considered expendable:
collateral damage for a greater good.
We see you with them, in solidarity,
and we ask that you will strengthen all those
who long to resist evil, but are not sure how
and we give thanks for those brave counter cultural souls
who persist in human kindness
at great personal cost.
Remember them, remember us, O God. Amen.