The Eighth Station: Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem. “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”.
Jesus you came down from heaven to carry out the will of the Father which was, “that none should be lost”. You have shared in our human experience and you know of our afflictions. Our journey through life is described in the Psalm 22 “Though I walk through the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. For you are there with your crook and your staff, with these you give us comfort”. During these times we have dramatically experienced through the coronavirus the domain of darkness. Because of modern communication we are particularly aware of death as it is experienced by those who have died from the virus and so it rightly established fear.
This fear should generate within us the beginning of wisdom. So our adherence to good directions given to us is truly important. The fruits of wisdom presents us with the challenge of living through your grace, love and care for us in keeping with the dignity, gifts and challenges of life. With our children returning to school and the necessities of life that help us to embrace life in its fulness, we rely upon your presence with us. As we make the way of the Cross the mystery of suffering remains with us, but we ask you to give us the strength to carry our crosses, to surrender our lives to you, and to live our lives as fully as possible.
One our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory be to the Father.
The Nineth Station: Jesus falls for the Third Time. “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”.
Does it ever let up? So often in life when it rains it pours. For one, the media are an embodiment of this. Up until the pandemic I was an enthusiast for Newsnight etc, though waning. After the first few weeks in isolation, it had gone off my agenda as indeed much of the media, a great thanks be to God for “Spring Watch”.
The journey of Jesus to Calvary with its moments on the way; Simon of Cyrene, His Mother Mary, Veronica, the Women of Jerusalem, ultimately the Roman Soldiers, His falls along the way to the Cross and the Nails ……. a litany beyond measure. As I look back on my journey of life with its many falls, I still try to speak of silver linings. Does it ever let up?, I truly hope so. I mentioned in the beginning, almost as a child recalling my dad doing the Stations of the Cross and the hours upon hours of pain that he suffered in his life. So I hope it imbues us with the spirit “those are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of His spirit living within us”, and at this time part of my prayer goes out to the Queen and the Royal Family.
One our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory be to the Father.