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But, when Jesus told the disciples that he would be crucified, in essence he was telling them, “I just love you to death!” He meant that literally.

So, when I think if the Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross, I think of our Lord’s hands.

During his lifetime, Jesus used his hands to build along side of St. Joseph and work along side of his Blessed Mother. He blessed, prayed, and healed with his hands. His hands waved hello to friends, and multiplied loaves and fishes to feed the multitudes.

We participate in that disrobing every time we treat our own bodies with less that the respect they deserve. Whether poor health habits, immodest dress or behavior, lustful behavior, or egotistic adornment, when we do not honor our own bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, we dishonor the Body of the One who gave all for our salvation.

He endured the disrobing of his Body so that we would stop disrobing ours.

While he was yet with them, Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. (Mt 16:24)

He wasn’t only referring to carrying it, he also was referring to falling with it.

Usually, we have one of two reactions when someone is sharing their misery with us. We either placate them because we don’t know how to – or maybe don’t want to – deal with their sorrow. Or, we bolster them up and send them on their way because we don’t have the know-how or time to listen and console. We give them the stiff-upper-lip pitch which never really gets to the root of the problem but makes us feel as though we’ve done them a good turn.

When you face an obstacle, you have three choices.

Give up.
Grit your teeth and power through it.
Grit your teeth and proceed in the spirit of self-sacrifice.