Saturday Ramblins, Vol. 3, No. 3 (April 14, 2001)

We have a wonderful tradition on Good Friday in the Roman Catholic Church called the Stations of the Cross. For those readers who are not familiar with this devotion, it involves coming to church on Good Friday afternoon, and entering into a series of prayers and meditations with 14 "icons" of the different events of the passion of Jesus that are usually on permanent display within the church. The desired effect is that we would come to a greater appreciation of the sufferings and death of Jesus for our sakes, to thank Him for His love and mercy, and to give Him the glory for our redemption.

With the onset of Holy Week for all Christian expressions, it seemed appropriate that we would share this great tradition with our own thoughts on the Stations of the Cross.

1. Jesus is Condemned to Death
Lord Jesus, so many times we say to ourselves that we would never be part of that crowd that condemns You to death. And yet, Lord, how many times have we hung back and not spoken out against injustice?

2. Jesus Bears His Cross
Lord Jesus, that was a heavy load for You to carry. My sin only made it heavier and harder to bear. I would never intentionally make Your burden heavier, Lord. But, day by day I add to its weight by my disrespect for others, my disobedience to parents and others in authority, my gossip and my bitterness.

3. Jesus Falls for the First Time
I knew this would happen, Lord. You have fallen under the tremendous weight of the Cross, and yet You get up and You move onward toward that Place of the Skull.

4. Jesus Meets His Mother
Jesus, Your mother is standing there as You walk by. You see the tears in her face; You know the agony that she is suffering on Your behalf. You love her not only for being Mom, but also for being obedient to the Father and accepting His will. Did she know that it would come to this? Shalom, Mary.

5. Jesus is Helped by Simon
Jesus, finally someone has come to help You. Did he know who You were? Did he see Your face and Your innocence? Was he moved by Your passion? Did he forgive the Romans and ultimately become one of Your followers, too?

6. Veronica Wipes His Face
Through her tears and her love for You, Lord, Veronica rushes forward to wipe Your face. In her agony, what more could she do but hope to bring You a small amount of comfort? I know that You appreciated her gesture of kindness. In my puny daily struggles, pour out Your grace, Jesus, so that I might put others first as well.

7. Jesus Falls a Second Time
Lord, You are weakening under the strain of it all. You look around with love at the crowds who stand by and watch, and You grieve for their sin. Are You overwhelmed, Lord, by the hate and anger that You see in their eyes ... these, the chosen people of God?

8. Jesus Speaks to the Women
Lord, throughout Your ministry there were women to help You, to provide You and Your disciples with what was needed. They know the love that You have shown to all, and they don’t understand, so You make time for them. Jesus, Your concern for us is too much for our mere human understanding.

9. Jesus Falls a Third Time
Jesus, we are at the hill and You stumble in Your exhaustion at the incline. It’s almost too much for anyone to bear, but for our sakes, You make it to the top. Forgive us Lord, for pushing You this far.

10. Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Lord, now Your body is exposed to the world, the body that will be sacrificed as the pure offering to God for the remission of sin. You had no sin or shame in Your body Lord, yet You knew that this was the vessel that was required and resigned Yourself to the will of Your Father.

11. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Lord, to have steel spikes driven through Your hands and feet, and to be hung there up in the sky for all to see, to struggle and gasp for every breath! Lord, You hung there and looked across the centuries to see me here, and You loved me. You knew my name, and You felt that I was worth dying for.

12. Jesus Dies on the Cross
It seemed that even the earth itself was ashamed, Lord, and hid its face. The sun as well was ashamed and hid its glory behind the moon and darkness fell over the earth. Three long hours of darkness proclaimed the deed that was being done to You. Your final cry, Lord, breaks my stone cold heart.

13. Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
"It is finished", You said. Looking numbly at the scene, the sun returns to the sky. How could this have happened, Lord? What have I done? How do I respond to Your sacrifice?

14. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
Joseph made arrangements to bring Your body to a new tomb, Lord, and the women scurry to prepare it before sunset. Lord, this all seems so hopeless, and yet there had to be a purpose. You, Lord, have paid the ultimate price on my behalf.

I hope and pray that this meditation has been fruitful for you. We end here and yet we know that the ending is only the beginning as we look forward to Resurrection Day. May His mercy and everlasting kindness be with you today and always!