Here is a meditation for the fifth Sorrowful mystery. You can go here for a meditation on the first Sorrowful mystery, here for a meditation on the second Sorrowful mystery, here for a meditation on the third Sorrowful mystery, and here for the fourth Sorrowful mystery.
NOTE: This is my own personal interpretation of scripture. If you'd like exact quotations or actions, feel free to read each gospel account of these mysteries.
TIP: Sometimes I meditate on all portions of this scene and sometimes just on a few moments. I allow God to guide my mind and if I get distracted (which can happen from time to time with kids in the room), I simply return to the last moment I can recall.
The Crucifixion
It's close to noon by the time Jesus stumbles up the hill to Calvary. He is stripped unceremoniously of His garments, which the guards take and divide among them using the game of lots. When they strip our Lord, He stands, barely but He stands. And in this moment He decides to leave this world just as He came, with nothing but His love and compassion.
The guards roughly pull Jesus onto the cross. And with ropes and great pulling, they pull His arms of their sockets so they can plow their nails ruthlessly into His hands. They do the same to His feet. The pain that radiates from His arms alone should kill Him, and yet He continues to suffer on. How great are my sins Lord that You should still suffer?
The cross is lifted and dropped into a whole in the ground where Jesus hangs for the next three hours. Struggling to breathe, He must lift Himself up off the cross by His pierced feet. How painful each breath must be.
Jesus looks around from His perch and sees His mother again. There she is STANDING. He can no longer stand, so she does for Him. Standing a pillar of strength for her Son and for us. He sees His executioners. Father forgive them, they know not what they do. Then He sees the many many souls in the crowd He knows will never choose Him. So many souls He cannot save because they refuse Him and He shouts I thirst!. Oh how He thirsts for us, for our souls! Will we quench His thirst? Will I give myself to Him today, tomorrow and always? Will I serve? Will I deny myself, take up my cross and follow Him? How can I not? I know I will stumble and fall, just like He did on His way to Calvary, but this time, I will have Him to pick me up. How can I not give You, Jesus, my all?
Finally, after hours of pain and suffering Jesus knows the end is near. To Mary Woman behold thy son and to John Son behold by mother. The last greatest act of mercy Jesus gave our world, was His mothers! Then Jesus screams Into they hands I commend my spirit. And it is done! He bows His head and His spirit leaves His body. The centurion pierces His side and is immediately converted by the blood and water that flow from Jesus and wash over Him. His eyes are opened and for the first time, the Centurion sees.
Silence. Complete silence. Emptiness. Nothingness. Despair. Then the earth quakes and a storm rolls in. Our Blessed Mother, stands steadfastly in front of her son, awaiting the moment He will be lowered down into her arms. She stands for us! Mary accepts Jesus' lifeless body as it is lowered into her lap and with great tenderness she kisses His face. She holds Him close to her bosom.
When Mary is finally ready, she opens her arms so Joseph of Arimathea can bury Jesus' body. His burial place was used. New, clean. Jesus is placed in the tomb and the stone is rolled in it's place. It is finished.
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