Eleventh Station — Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. The Eleventh Station. Jesus is nailed to the Cross. The hammer fell. The nails went through Your wrists, through Your feet. The wood received Your body. They lifted the Cross. They dropped it into the hole prepared for it. Your weight fell on those wounds, and You hung there. The Gospel of Luke, chapter twenty-three, records what You prayed in that moment. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Father, forgive them. The first words from the Cross. Not a curse. Not a complaint. A petition for the forgiveness of the very ones driving the nails. Lord, this is the highest peak of love. To pray for the people who are killing You, while they are killing You. To not just refrain from cursing them, but actively to ask the Father to forgive them. Who could do that? Only You could do that. And then You ask me to do it too. Love your enemies, You said in Matthew five. Pray for those who persecute you. The standard is not human. The standard is You. Tonight, Lord, I bring You the people I am still struggling to forgive. The ones whose nails I am still holding onto. The ones I rehearse arguments with in my head. The ones whose names I cannot say without something hardening in my chest. Father, forgive them. Help me say it about each one. Father, forgive them. Father, forgive the one who hurt me as a child. Father, forgive the spouse who broke their vows. Father, forgive the friend who betrayed me. Father, forgive the colleague who stole credit. Father, forgive the family member who said unforgivable words. Father, forgive me. For my own nails I have driven into Your hands. The sins I have committed. The love I have withheld. The ways I have crucified You by my unkindness to the people You died to save. Lord, the nails are made of love. Not metal. They held You there because You chose to be held. You could have come down at any moment. You did not, because of love. Love so great it absorbs every wound and gives back forgiveness. Wash me in that love tonight. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.