The Third Station ~ Jesus Falls the First Time

From the Vietnam War: the fleeing of napalm bombing

IN PICTURES DEPICTING the repeated falls of Jesus we see him surrounded by bullying soldiers who do their job in the service of the Roman Imperial Army. They spit at Jesus, hit him, stick out their tongues and scold him violently along the way. 

Carol Penner has written a Prayer Against Violence for the Mennonites, who are a non-violent Peace Church. I can pray this prayer, asking for the conversion of our violent world and for my own conversion to the things of God's peace.

Perfect love casts out fear and so today we pray for your spirit of Love on our world.

Cast out the strapping of bombs to bodies.
Cast out the explosion of bombs in crowded places.
Cast out the tricking of children to carry bombs.
Cast out the desperation that leads people to terrorist acts.
Cast out the making of walls that divide and imprison us.
Cast out the firing of missiles and the bulldozing of homes.
Cast out the prejudice against people of a certain race or culture.
Cast out the political structures that perpetuate violence.
Cast out the hatred that produces fear.
Send down the courage to reach out in peace.
Send down the resolution to not return evil for evil.
Send down the creativity to find peaceful political solutions.
Send down the wisdom that politicians and diplomats need.
Send down the commitment to work together to end terrorism.
Send down the power of nonviolence to create change.
Send down the comfort and justice that victims need.
Send down the love that will end our fear.

We ask these things in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

The Second Station ~ Jesus Picks Up His Cross

HERE JESUS HAS PICKED UP HIS CROSS, the hill rises before him, and as he walks he pauses to look over his shoulder. His eyes are searching. What, or more importantly, who is Jesus looking for? Perhaps an old friend: Peter, Andrew, Thomas, Philip. Where has everyone gone?

Maybe Jesus is hoping to catch sight of his grieved yet consoling Mother. Or has a faithful friend called his name and he has turned, hoping to find a familiar face in the crowd? 

But remember when earlier in the Gospels, Jesus approached the potential disciples with the words, "Come follow me." And in another Gospel place where Jesus charged those who would follow him, that each would have a personal cross to pick up and carry. 

So maybe Jesus is looking back through all of time to this very moment, hoping to see my face among those who, rather than having run away in fear, have followed close by in humility, obedience and a deep love!

Silence

Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

Hail Mary full of grace...

Glory be to the Father...

The First Station ~ Jesus is Condemned to Death

REMEMBER THE CROWDS SO DENSE that the paralyzed man had to be lowered down through the roof to meet Jesus? (Mark 2:1-12) Remember the bleeding woman so pressed by the crowd that her best hope was only to touch Jesus' clothing?  (Mark 5:21-34) 

Now the crowds have all gone away and Jesus is left, hands tied and standing in a dark shadow. Can I feel the loneliness of Jesus in this scene? God knows my own tremendous loneliness and fear of being forgotten, marginalized, ignored. The danger is, that in so fearing loneliness, I compromise myself, making dreadful choices by which I lose my dignity, the grace of my soul, my balance, perhaps an important relationship. Rather, here I am invited to find my way to Jesus who knows so well the human pain of loneliness.

Oh Jesus, thank you for sharing with us the deep pain of human loneliness. Now I hold this scene in my heart, standing so close to you while Pilate gives his lecture. And may I comfort you?

Silence

Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

Hail Mary full of grace...

Glory be to the Father...