The Eleventh Station ~ Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

Gerard David ~ Christ Nailed to the Cross

ONCE AND FOR ALL, enough of this about the Jews killing Christ. Surely, the painter of this picture understands, Jesus is looking at me, not at anyone else. I have a responsibility to share. 

But how? I wasn't there. I have a responsibility to share because I refuse to give up my greed which abuses this earth-paradise God has given us. I have a responsibility to share because the world is involved in a perpetual war, and expensive war preparation is the world's first business. 

Jesus is looking at all of us because we're the killer people by our executing, aborting, euthanizing and standing by, faces in the window, witnessing a global war on children. In this moment, Jesus is silent. And biblically, silence is a sign of the presence of the all-powerful God. 

Oh Jesus, as I see this picture of you  being nailed to the cross, I find it so difficult to return your gaze for long.

Deep Silence

Our Father Who art in Heaven...

Hail Mary full of grace...

Glory be to the Father...

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross ~ The Eleventh Station

The five men here who are nailing Jesus to cross are calm and efficient. They have done this before. Maybe they get paid a little for their work and are just going about their business. 

But this is nothing new, comfortability with evil doings: The corporate fellow who calmly credits the business account with personal expenses, the dealer who calmly sells drugs to kids who are just starting, the gossip who calmly tells the story to yet another villager (parishioner), the student who calmly downloads term papers off the Internet, the Christian  nurse who calmly prepares the doctor's office where abortions are performed, the elected official who pushes legislation that benefits only his people, the cleric or politician who calmly lies to protect his power.

Feodor Dostoevsky wrote: "Christ, you have come to disturb us."

Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

Hail Mary full of grace...

Glory be to the Father...

Station Eleven ~ Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

EVEN THE SILENT GESTURES of Jesus have meaning. Look at the enormity of Jesus stretch! Maxed out, we say. So many of us tell of great losses: a loved one's sudden death; sexual abuse; a father never known, virginity foolishly given or stolen away; infidelities; addiction; a home ruined with fighting and divorce; emotional absence where I'd hoped for love.

And a great loneliness has perhaps overwhelmed me, making living and believing painfully difficult. But how is it, in this moment of my life, I have been put in contact with this picture, this meditation? Is it God's way of finding me, perhaps lost in an abyss?

In Jesus, God himself has opened his arms to the whole human race, including me? Like an eternal priest before the altar, with arms outstretched in prayer, Jesus welcomes me personally. 

This is a crowded picture. But I can push the ladder, skull and robe aside in the forefront of the painting. I might imagine right now entering the scene and quietly approaching Jesus who is wide awake in pain, cold and loneliness. He will whisper something for my ears only. Listen!

Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

Hail Mary full of grace...

Glory be to the Father...

The Eleventh Station ~ Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

SO MUCH INGRATITUDE. God's hands of kindness and mercy have been opened to us, and we have nailed those hands to the cross. God has walked among us in love, and we have nailed those feet to the cross.

I must never be surprised by ingratitude Indeed, I mustn't even expect, anticipate or require the gratitude of others. From the start in Eden we are not very good at gratitude. Only God is sure to reward. 

And when we are surrounded by ingratitude and every good thing we do seems to go unnoticed or forgotten, we can trust that God knows and that is all that matters. And God will hold us up and perhaps even send us some human hand to reassure us of his presence and grateful love. Here, Jesus looks into our own space, expecting ingratitude. He understands our weakness. 

O Jesus, share life and love with me - your grace - so I can be patient  with everyone, especially myself.

Silence

Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

Hail Mary full of grace...

Glory be to the Father...