INTRODUCTION & OPENING PRAYER

LEADER: Hello. Thank you for joining us to pray the Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross began as a way for Jesus’ disciples to honor and remember their friend after his death. Believers wanted to walk the Way of Sorrows, the same steps that their Lord and Savior had walked. They wanted to return to important places associated with Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. This pilgrimage toward Calvary helped them recall, understand, and appreciate the greatest of Christian stories – the dying and rising of Christ Jesus. The devotion or practice of the stations originated and developed from the need to remember and meditate on the sacred events that make up our Christian story of redemption, the paschal mystery. Just as the early disciples needed a way to remember and honor their Lord, we, too, gather to reflect on his suffering on our behalf, his generous offering of self for our salvation. We take time during this devotion to think about what it means to be believers and followers of Christ and about the responsibility that comes with our faith. We

remember and reflect on the words Jesus spoke to his disciples and what those words mean for us today. “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? LEADER: Let us begin. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. LEADER: Brothers and sisters, we gather here to journey with Christ on the Way of the Cross. Let these reflections and meditations prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ at Easter. Let us pray. God of power and mercy, in love you sent your Son that we might be cleansed of sin and live with you forever. Bless us as we gather to reflect on his suffering and death that we may learn from his example the way we should go. We ask this through that same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

STATION 1

LEADER: The First Station: Jesus is condemned to death. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus was silent and made no answer. Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said “Let him be crucified.” Lord Jesus, you came into this world to reveal the tremendous depth of God’s love for each of us. You invited everyone to follow you. You healed the sick, forgave the guilt-ridden, included the excluded, and taught people how to live and love. Yet a handful of political and religious authorities rejected you and condemned you to die on a cross. Let us pray together

Forgive me, Lord, for the times I condemn you again by not honoring your presence in others and in myself. Forgive me for the times I judge my brothers and sisters harshly. I am so quick to find fault in others and in myself. Too often I criticize people for how they look or act or dress. Too often I see only my weaknesses. Too often I am blind to the goodness you see in us all. LEADER: Who are the people – individuals or groups – you look down on and condemn, either in the silence of your mind or in the words you speak? ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 2

LEADER: The Second Station: Jesus carries his Cross. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the Place of the Skull, which is called Golgotha in Hebrew. Lord Jesus, you did not ask for your cross, yet you picked it up. You did not ask to be mistreated, yet you accepted mistreatment rather than abandon your commitment to nonviolence and unconditional love. Where did you get your strength? Your heart must have been so heavy with sadness, your body so sore from being beaten, your spirit so weak as you wondered why this violence was being done to you. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I take the easy way out. Forgive me for the times I choose to use violent words or actions rather than to take up my cross and suffer for the sake of love.

To be honest, Lord, I’m afraid to take up my cross. I’m not sure what it means. I think you’re telling me to face the pain in my life – to let go of revenge and forgive someone who has hurt me, to let go of the fear of befriending someone who is lonely or left out, to deal with my personal problems with courage. LEADER: What are your crosses? That is, what challenging or difficult situations are you facing? ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 3

LEADER: The Third Station: Jesus falls the first time. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: Under the weight of the cross, weakened from the beatings, Jesus falls the first time. Lord Jesus, falling seems so weak, so embarrassing, so humiliating. We are taught to stand tall and act strong or risk being laughed at. Is it okay to feel weak? We are sad when we think of you falling under the weight of your cross. Yet sometimes we are secretly happy when certain people fall and fail under the weight of their crosses – crosses we sometimes give them. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I laugh at others and cause them to fall by my thoughtless words and actions.

Forgive me for the times I do not even try to walk under the weight of my cross. Please know that I really want to do the right thing.

At times I want to include someone new, only to find it easier to keep things the way they are. At times I want to forgive, only to find I can’t seem to let go of a grudge.

At times I want to speak kindly, only to say hurtful things to someone who just wants the same respect I want.

LEADER: Who do you like to see fall and fail? Whose life are you making harder than it has to be? What good intentions of yours haven’t become actions?

~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~

LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 4 - Mary

LEADER: The Fourth Station: Jesus meets his afflicted mother. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: And he said to Mary: “a sword will pierce through your own heart also.” Lord Jesus, what was it like to see the pain in your mother’s eyes? Did your tears mingle with her tears in a quick embrace? Did she whisper, “I love you”? We often see pictures in the news of families who have experienced the horrors of war or who live in extreme poverty. When those parents look at their children, do they feel like Mary did the day she watched you carry the cross? Forgive me, Lord, for not appreciating all that my family has done for me. Even if I haven’t always understood, I know they are trying their best.

Forgive me for ever acting as if I didn’t need their help. Help me to include them in my life rather than push them away. Forgive me for the hurtful things I sometimes say to them in anger. I hope they know I don’t mean it. I also hope they know how much I love them, even though I sometimes have difficulty saying so. LEADER: Think about one of your family members who has cared for you. What do you appreciate about him or her? Despite conflicts you may have had with this person, what are his or her good qualities? How can you love him or her more generously? ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 5 – Simon of Cyrene

LEADER: The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his Cross. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry Jesus’ cross Lord Jesus, you showed us how human you were by needing Simon’s help. Your cross was too heavy for you, just as at times our crosses are too heavy for us to carry alone. Were you surprised when the soldiers pulled Simon out of the crowd to help you? No soldiers are pulling us out of our groups. Yet you are counting on us to help carry the crosses of those who are struggling in life, even when we would rather remain safely hidden among our friends.

Forgive me, Lord, for failing to help someone when I have the chance to do so. Forgive me for my reluctant attitude when I am asked to help but don’t want to give up any of my time. You taught us that when we help anyone – friend or foe, parent or peer – we are helping you. Help me speak encouraging words to everyone, starting with a simple hello to someone I normally ignore. Free me from an uncaring attitude and from being too concerned with what others may think of me. Give me the courage to carry another’s cross.

LEADER: How willingly do you help others when you’re asked to do so? What are some recent examples of how you have demonstrated care and concern for someone outside your regular circle of family and friends? ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 6 - Veronica

LEADER: The Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: A woman by the name of Veronica pushed through the crowds and wipes Jesus’ face. Lord Jesus, the mixture of blood, sweat, and dust trickling down your face and stinging your eyes made your painful journey even more difficult. As Veronica wiped your face, perhaps her gentleness in the midst of such brutality reinforced what you already knew and believed: People are basically good and want to do good, but too often fear and selfishness lead them astray.

Forgive me, Lord, for the times I fail to act out of my God-given goodness. When I take the lesser paths of hate and hurt, I am not following Veronica’s example. Forgive me for not living with the same gentleness and care that Veronica showed to you. LEADER: Name some ways you can be more gentle with and compassionate toward yourself and others. ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 7

LEADER: The Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: Under the weight of the cross, weakened from the beatings, Jesus falls the second time. Lord Jesus, I wish you had walked straight and like some kind of superhero, rather than falling. But then you wouldn’t have been fully human like us – except for sin, of course. You fell because you had been tortured and your body was weak. In that moment you may have felt deep sadness for all those who needed your Father’s unconditional love but seemed unable to accept it. You wanted – and always will want – people to know how near God’s love and acceptance is. Yet we often stumble through life unaware.

Forgive me, Lord, for sometimes refusing to believe in the tremendous love you have for me. When I walk away from your love, I’m like a penniless person who rejects a million-dollar gift. Forgive me for thinking I have everything I need without you. Expecting myself to be perfect and thinking I don’t need anyone’s help only makes it harder to get up when I fall. When you fell, the strength you received from your relationship with your Father gave you the courage to get up and keep going.

LEADER: Who do you rely on to get through life’s difficult times? In what area of your life do you need to ask for God’s help to get up and try again? ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 8 – women of Jerusalem

LEADER: The Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

LEADER: But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children… For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Lord Jesus, in your culture men were expected to be friends only with men, but you didn’t let the customs of your society prevent you from having friendships with women as well. I’m sure the women you encountered had never met anyone who accepted, loved, listened to, healed, and forgave them as you did. So when your time of suffering came, they were understandably devastated. But they did not know then what we know now: Death failed to conquer you. Instead you conquered both evil and death!

Forgive me, Lord, for the times I do nothing when I have the chance to do something to make a difference. Like the women you met, I sometimes feel devastated by the evil in this world. The amount of suffering is truly overwhelming. But though I can’t help everyone, I can help someone. Forgive me for the many times I think only of myself. Forgive me for giving in to society’s ways and prejudices – even when I know it is wrong to do so. Help me to see that this is a journey we are all on together.

LEADER: What suffering do you see that causes you to grieve? What prejudices do you hold – even though you know they are wrong? Who can you help today? ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 9

LEADER: The Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: Under the weight of the cross, weakened from the beatings, Jesus falls the third time. Lord Jesus, what was going on in your heart and mind as you got close to the horror to come? Surely you knew about – and likely even witnessed – the crucifixion of others. It was a cruel method of torture that the Romans used to terrorize and control people. Did your fear take your breath away and cause you to stumble? Did you somehow sense your Father’s presence at such a terrifying time? Does the horror, cruelty, and suffering in our world today cause you to feel sad?

Forgive me, Lord, for the times I am cruel. It’s so easy to make a hurtful comment that crushes someone’s heart. Sadly, I see that when I am at my worst, I am not that much different from your Roman torturers. But I know you encourage me to forgive myself, apologize, ask forgiveness of those I hurt, and try again. I ask forgiveness too, Lord, for those who terrorize people and inflict violence on them. Open their eyes to see you in the faces of their victims. Change their hearts.

LEADER: Do you need to apologize to and ask forgiveness from someone for something hurtful or cruel you’ve done or said to them? Do you need to forgive yourself? ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 10

LEADER: The Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his clothes. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe… When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier… But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” Lord Jesus, why did the Roman soldiers add to your suffering by stripping you of your clothes before nailing you to the cross? Was it really necessary? Or did your torturers know how modest you and your people were about your bodies and purposely shame you even more?

Forgive me, Lord, for the times I don’t treat my body very well. Help those who are tempted by dangerous substances. Forgive me for the many times I have judged people’s worth by outward appearance. Forgive me for seeing someone as a body rather than as a human being with a soul, created in your image. Forgive me for making unkind comments about other people’s bodies and about my own. LEADER: How can you respect your body? How can you show more respect for all human beings – body and spirit – by what you do and say, or don’t say? ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 11

LEADER: The Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the Cross. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

LEADER: And they took Jesus and nailed him to the cross in his hands and feet.

Lord Jesus, I don’t like to think about the physical pain you suffered as nails were pounded into your hands and feet. Such brutality is totally beyond my comprehension! And to add to your suffering, some of the people viciously taunted and insulted you. Did you feel like you had failed in your mission to reveal God’s love for humanity as you suffered from such inhumanity?

Forgive me, Lord, for the times I hurt others by insulting them, gossiping, spreading rumors, or acting like they didn’t even exist.

The potential to destroy that was in the Roman soldiers, in some of the religious authorities, and in some of the crowd gathered on that horrible afternoon resides in all of us. But the potential to build up, to create, and to love is also within all of us. Forgive me for the times when I have treated another human being inhumanely. LEADER: Are you hurting someone through your words or actions? What beginning steps can you take to become more kind and loving? ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 12

LEADER: The Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the Cross. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.” Please kneel. Lord Jesus, what a horrible way to die – suffocating while nailed to a cross. Yet in freedom and in love, you offered yourself to the Father. As you hung on the cross, you forgave the soldiers who crucified you, and you prayed for your mother and friends. Jesus, you wanted all of us to be able to live forever with God, so you gave all you had for us.

Forgive us, Lord, for not doing or saying the right thing because I refuse to suffer at all. Sometimes it’s more important to me to be liked than to reach out and love, to remain comfortable than to reach out and comfort. Forgive me for those times when I’m like the authorities of your day – those who didn’t want to change and who refused to pay the price of love. Forgive me for refusing to die to my selfish and petty ways. LEADER: What actions or attitudes do you need to let die? How can you reach out to love those in need, taking courage from Jesus’ willingness to die on the cross? ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us! LEADER: Please stand.

STATION 13 – Joseph of Arimathea

LEADER: The Thirteenth Station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud.” Lord Jesus, the Scriptures tell us that a follower named Joseph of Arimathea took your body down from the cross. Tradition has your mother cradling your lifeless body in her arms. How completely shattered your mother and followers must have been as they gazed upon your bruised and bloody body through tear-blurred eyes. They must have felt like their hearts had been ripped out of them as they grieved your death.

When I think about death or when I lose someone I love, I feel despair and think that death is the end. When I think of my own death, terror instead of faith rises in me. When I hear about the horrible things that happen to people, I lose hope. I forget that after every Good Friday comes an Easter Sunday. Help me to believe that you are with me and all of humanity, helping us through all our painful times, including death.

LEADER: Close your eyes. Allow Jesus to hold you just as Mary held him at the foot of the cross. Open yourself to the abundant love God has for you, especially when you are struggling with grief, hopelessness, or despair. ~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

STATION 14

LEADER: The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. ~ GENUFLECT ~ Because by your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. LEADER: They took the body of Jesus, bound in linen and spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid in it. Lord Jesus, it must have seemed final to your friends and followers when your body was laid in the tomb. Death and evil had won. Today when we bury someone we love, we sometimes feel like death has won again. But the truth is that death is not the winner. It’s not even the enemy! Rather, death is part of life and is on the road we must all travel on our journey home to you.

Forgive me, Lord, for failing to recognize what an absolutely precious gift all of life is. Each of us is a unique, irreplaceable child of God. Yet sometimes I am too blind to see the value we all have.

Forgive me for taking life for granted, as if people, the world, you, or even life itself owes me something. Life is, after all, a God-given gift.

Forgive me for the many times I complain of being bored. Help me choose to get involved and make a difference in the world.

LEADER: In what ways do you see life as a gift? In what ways is it a burden? How can you take more responsibility for your life’s direction and happiness?

~ LONG PAUSE (about 20 seconds ~ LEADER: Lord Jesus, crucified… Have mercy on us!

CLOSING

LEADER: Loving Father, we ask that you pour your grace upon us as we remember Christ's passion and death and anticipate His resurrection on Easter. May our observance of these stations enable us to enter more fully into your son’s sacrifice on Calvary. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. LEADER: Thank you for joining us for the Stations of the Cross.