The Fifth Station ~ Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross

THE GOSPEL TELLS US that Simon was coming home from his work in the fields when the soldiers forced him to help carry Jesus' cross awhile. His having been beaten so severely, the soldiers were afraid Jesus wouldn't make it to the top of Calvary. That would mean trouble for them.

We can imagine Simon's fear having to get involved in this execution. Maybe he was afraid that he'd be hurt by the surrounding violence, or that this was going to take more time than he could afford, or fear of what others would think of his contact with this condemned man. Or perhaps he was simply lost in un-imagined fears.

Oh Jesus, I am a slave to fear, free me! I want to sing, My heart is ready O God, my heart is ready. Ready to serve. Ready to learn. Ready to be generous. Ready to trust. Ready... 

The Fourth Station ~ Jesus Meets His Mother

THIS IS A GREAT AND MYSTERIOUS THING - the tears of Mary. Her anguish must matter because years before, when Jesus was an infant, Simeon had told her: "A sword of sorrow will pierce your soul." Surely Simeon meant more than just watch out or get ready. 

Tears can heal. We feel better after a good cry. I can wonder about the healing value of Mary's tears. What did she know? How did she share in all of this? Though the hour for Jesus to undertake the work of his suffering and death was known only to the Father, it was Mary who got Jesus started by proposing he begin at the Cana wedding (John 2: 1-11).

Mary seems to possess a painful secret and she weeps. And my own bitter tears? - over personal wounds and secrets, over the world's sad scenes, over the pain I may have caused, the personal knowledge I have that is sometimes too much to bear.

Silence

Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

Hail Mary full of grace...

Glory be to the Father...

Intercessions ~ First Sunday of Lent

Eastern Christians have begun Lent as well./ We ask for new understanding and efforts towards unity among the Christians of East and West./ We pray to the Lord.

Lent is the Church's springtime./ Aware of the deep hatreds present in our world/ we ask for the warming and new growth of forgiveness and mutual love/ where there are pained divisions,/ violence and death./ We pray to the Lord.

We ask never to take our Christian lives for granted/ or to be lukewarm in living it./ And we pray for Christians who are troubled and harassed in many places./ We pray to the Lord.

Praying for a peaceful resolution of deep tensions between Ukraine and Russia,/ we also pray for the people of  Austria,/ Azerbaijan,/ Bahamas,/ Bahrain,/ Bangladesh and Barbados./ We pray to the Lord.

We entrust our families to Christ this First Sunday of Lent,/ calling to mind family members who are sick,/ burdened,/ anxious or in any difficulty./ We pray to the Lord.

At Mass today we hold in our hearts the children of the world:/ those waiting to be born,/ the abused,/ exploited and forsaken./ We ask for every child to be welcomed and treasured./ We pray to the Lord.

We have set out in the journey to Easter,/ holding in love those who have died/ asking for the forgiveness of sins committed,/ and the Resurrection promise of the fullness of life./ We pray to the Lord.