Jesus Falls the Second Time

No fixed feast day in the calendar

By tradition, Jesus falls again: the repetition is heavier, but mercy does not count the times.

This station comes from the devotional tradition of the Church; the Gospels do not tell it.

“Then Peter came up to Jesus and asked, “Master, if my brother keeps offending me, how many times must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I do not say seven times, but seventy times seven.”” (cf. Mt 18:21-22)

Look

Tradition contemplates the second fall when his strength has drained even further. This time it is no surprise; it is the repetition itself that is heavy. Onlookers might think: again. We often say the same thing to ourselves when we fall into the very same fault: angry again, lying again, skipping prayer again. Jesus did not sin, but he went through the weariness of the second time so as to be with us right there in it. And when Peter asked how many times he must forgive, Jesus answered with a way of speaking that invites us to forgive without keeping count. If he asks us to forgive like that, how much greater is his own mercy!

Ask your heart

Which fault do you keep repeating so often that you think God must be tired of forgiving you?

One small thing

Don't wait until you have “fixed it for good” to come back: today, tell God you are sorry for that old fault in a short prayer, and set a day to go to Confession.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you fell again and still rose.
When I fall back into old faults, do not let me despair of your mercy,
but help me return to you once more. Amen.

The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.