Are you ready to accompany Him? Is your heart prepared to walk all the way—through the Cross and into the glory?

We must begin by first receiving what He seeks to give us, by approaching the table and bowing before Mercy. We must take and eat, so that we are strengthened for the long and arduous journey to the mountain of Offering. We must not approach in fear, we must not approach conscious of our sin, we must not approach with grasping hands. Come to His table and listen to Him. Listen to the way He pours himself out for you: “This is My Body, for you.” 

And when you have received His gift and consumed His love, allow yourself to follow Him all the way.

We will enter the garden drenched in blood. We must wait with Him, and we must not let our souls become weary. We must stay awake and console His Heart.  We must be His place of rest. 

When the soldiers come, when His betrayer is at hand, we must not fear. We must stand bravely with our Lord and not run away. We must abide in His Heart and feast on His promises. I will not leave you orphan. In three days, I will raise this temple up. Abide.  The kingdom is at hand. 

When He is held captive in the prison, awaiting condemnation, we must remain with Him. Conscious of our own captivity, we must allow Him to bear it for us. We must surrender our chains, that His suffering might be effective in our lives.

When He is accused and mocked and scorned before the crowd, we must go to our inner room. We must whisper words of praise and adoration, that He might take rest in our hearts.

When He is scourged, lay your hearts bare. Do not withhold even the smallest sin: let His blood cover everything. Let yourself be loved—let Him bear the pain for you.

When He journeys to the Cross, journey with Him. Heed His words: take up your Cross and follow Me. Do not worry about its weight, do not question its size, do not bear it alone. Now is the moment when you are invited to walk so closely with Him. Now is the moment when you are invited to lock eyes with the Bleeding Savior. He is intimately with you—His wounds are yours.  Walk with Him. Do not be afraid to touch His bleeding body. Do not be afraid to look into His deformed face. Look at Him, walk with Him and understand the love He has for you.

When He is lifted up on the Wood, stay there. Wait with Mary and John, wait with Magdalene. Wait and do not be afraid to be fully drenched in the blood that pours out from His pierced side. Let yourself receive the Blood which is the hope of your redemption.  Bring your burdens and lay them down here. Bring your bruised and broken heart and lay it down here. Let all that needs healing be left at the foot of His Cross. 

Do not withhold. Do not run away. Fix your eyes on the bruised, broken, bleeding Lord. Let your heart be in union with His. Let yourself understand these words: I thirst for you.  Let yourself encounter His Relentless Love. Oh, weary and tender soul, would you let yourself be healed, find rest, and be loved at the foot of the Cross?

He asks—will you accompany Me?  It is not solely for His own consolation; this accompaniment, this lengthy journey, this arduous path of suffering is the way of your sanctification.  And He desires you to enter in and receive its fruit.

Dear heart, do not mistake His confident words: you will rise with Him. So let all be laid down and covered in the redemptive blood, that you may emerge from the tomb and understand the newness that His Resurrection brings. 

This is the journey: take up your Cross and accompany Your Savior, for you shall know the Light.