3. The 3rd Station of the Interior Liturgy: the Station of Mercy.
Our petition: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
The sacrament of the 3rd Station is Reconciliation, which brings us the forgiveness and the mercy of Christ.
Meditation:
God's mercy is infinite! Yet even God is resisted by a hardened and unforgiving heart. The infinite mercy of God
"cannot penetrate our hearts as long as we have not forgiven those who have trespassed against us. Love, like
the Body of Christ, is indivisible; we cannot love the God we cannot see if we do not love the brother or sister
we do see. In refusing to forgive our brothers and sisters, our hearts are closed and their hardness makes them
impervious to the Father's merciful love; but in confessing our sins, our hearts are opened to his grace."
(CCC 2840) Will the liturgy stop here, because of my hardened heart?
So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your
gift. (Mt 5:23-24)
(Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.)
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive
men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Mt 6:14-15)
(Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.)
And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on
the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Lk 23:33-34)
(Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.)
Prayer:
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.
(pause)
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Following the 3rd Station,
at this close of the 1st Movement,
please have an extended time of silence and waiting upon the Lord.
We are moving from the pilgrimage of discipleship - in the Liturgy of the Word -
to the altar of self-offering - the Liturgy of Consecration at the Altar.