We begin each Station of the Cross with the prayer “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”. The Stations of the Cross can be a very important devotional prayer in our lives, but especially during Lent.
The first station – Jesus is condemned to death.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world”. This is part of a great reality. We are all condemned to death. A reality. Here at St Wilfrid’s we had a great shock with the tragic sudden death of Hannah Hoad, a young parishioner. It is honest and sincere she was “a realtreasure”, obviously for her family and especially her parents David and Anne. In spite of her handicaps she was a bundle of life with attitude, able to stand up for herself, full of life, mischief and fun. Some of our elderly parishioners had lovely things to say about herover the years.Then at St George’s Church we had a very special funeral celebration for Ronald and Monica Williams who died together in Eastbourne Hospital from the coronavirus. Their son Ed gave us a heartfelt story of their life, and as we streamed the service we will place their story on our website. Summed up in the words of their son “Ron and Moni were inseparable for 60 years, they devoted their livesto their 3 children, David, Edward and Anna, and they were just as in love on their last day together as they were on their wedding day. They did everything together, they cared and loved and fought for their children together, they grieved together, found the strength to go on together, and finally they died together, and they will be together forever”. So, as we place our lives at the foot of the cross, preparing to make the stations of the cross as part of the journey of life this Lent. We make it our great desire that the journey of our lives will bare much fruit, fruit that will last.
The Second Station: Jesus receives the Cross.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”. The agony of Jesus in the garden is a very important focus for our attention. Christ’s agony, the Stations of the Cross and the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary provide a constant opportunity for us to contemplate Christ’s presence in the world, and above all the salvation He brings. Last week in ‘Deacon John Writes’ he had a very important, clear message. In it he said “Lent began last Wednesday, and we were reminded that there is no better time than the present to turn to God for forgiveness and to forgive others”. My moments in the garden are frequently focused upon my awareness that I should do better. It becomes a constant refrain in my mind “you should do better”. Then because Satan the devil is the accused of the brethren, and as St Peter highlighted, he sits on our shoulder and accosts us night and day. In fact, never lets up. Jesus has put a stop to this by becoming the instrument of God’s forgiveness. This is the mission of His life –and for this He lays down His life.
The Third Station: Jesus falls the first time.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”. He became like us in all things but sin. He knows our weaknesses. The implication of His forgiveness is that it is final, complete. It is His gift that He will never take back. As he completely forgives He has forgiven me, it is essential that I too forgive myself. Through God’s grace, if only I can take hold of this, it becomes a real gift. If we take hold of this, the peace, then the strength and hope that it will bring to our life begins to bear fruit –fruit that will last. The implication for the good of our world is that, as He forgives me, so I forgive others.
The Fourth Station: Jesus meets His mother.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”.The family home is so important in the journey of life, and yet more and more it is becoming absent to our world. This is why in our Catholic church the role of Mary has such an important place. As we realise this, then we become aware of the life of orphans who for no fault of their own have this great affliction to contend with. And so the promise “I will not leave you orphans as so many now are”. This should become a major part of our prayers and Lenten preparation for the most important week –The one we call Holy Week, so that the life of Christ may truly find a home in us.
The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross”.So often I say two things: The consolation that this station brings to Jesus, the help that is given to Him is also a great consolation for us. On the way of the cross at the Second Station where I pondered that I knew “I should do better”, giving way to the forgiveness that Jesus brings. Now the realisation “we can all do better”. After the lockdown when we will return to “the life of the church”, then we will genuinely seek to do better. This involves us believing and sharing together in a life of faith with the fruits of this in our experiencing what was the outcome for the early Christian community –“see how they love one another”.
The Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
Last week Deacon John presented us with the dramatic story presented on the internet by Dr Peggy Hartshom, about a women who glimpsed the mystery of her unborn child. Circumstances had brought about this dramatic encounter. She was amazed to see the perfectly formed boy, the tiny legs and arms moving in her womb. All of a sudden, Dr Hartshom’s assistant said, “reach out and take your baby’s hand”. The women raised her hand and touched the monitor. As if by some divine cue, the baby stretched out his arm to the exact place on his mom’s hand. On the screen his tiny fingers met hers. The women underwent a transformation and kept her baby. Surely we recognise that there is a mystery inside each one of us –the mystery of the image of God. We see this in a very special way when His sacred face was revealed to her “Veronica wipes the face of Jesus”.
The Seventh Station: Jesus falls a Second Time.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”.Back down to earth with a bang. The seventh station often has this reference to our lives. Following moments of grace is a reality in life that very often we are again confronted with the ordinary, the normal, the difficulties of life. On the horizon now is the mostspecial season of Holy Week. Please God, this is coinsiding with our thoughts of returning to church. This has been helped by the rollout of vaccines, and while very much to be welcomed alongside the return of our children to school, this highlights the circumstances that we are living under and that there may be a spike in the number of people catching it. So again; Firstly, it is good to be back, and welcome. So as parish priest that is to all our parishioners. Secondly, the great necessity to adhere to the guidelines for the safeguarding of our services. So it will be essential for all to apply through the Parish Office to book a place at Masses during Holy Week. We may have to have a draw for places, because stewarding is an essential requirement and I am responsible for this. Just as Jesus, becauseheis human, again falls under the weight of the cross. So the weight of the cross has been heavy in our journey.
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.
The Ninth 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.
The Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of His garments.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”. When we began the Way of the Cross it was with great awareness that Jesus came down from heaven to bring God’s salvation to our world. To this end He became like us in all things but sin. He is now stripped of all His garments. This in a very real way is what the coronavirus is doing. As with Jesus it is happening with the help of the powers that be, for Jesus it was the Sanhedrin and the Roman Army. As I listen to people in the very limited windows that are open to us; I cannot but echo how much our lives have been stripped by the virus. One echo that I could identify with, was one persons desire never to listen to the media in the morning. It is just shocking the length they go to gather the worst news they can find. Also, the deep, deep affliction of those isolated by the virus left abandoned and in pain as death draws closer. As He is stripped of His garments we are stripped of our comforts, and our distractions, while especially our children were stripped of their school, their supports, their access to life and friends. For others the opportunity to find work and also to access the life of the sacraments. Jesus is stripped.
The Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the Cross.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”. Options and choices are now so limited. The sponge and the vinegar are galling and yet offered as a comfort. Our lives can echo these realms of loss. The memory of my dad with his constant pain, ministering as a priest opens ones eyes to deep afflictions. The nails signify His abandonment, there is no way He could crucify Himself –yet He is God. He could put a stop to it . So often the afflictions in our lives as in the Gospel reading today are so self afflicted. In the Gospel of St John 5: 1–3, 5–16. Jesus heals the man on the sabbath and tells him to take up his mat and walk. The powers that be, and they are the religious ones, are down to him. He is breaking the sabbath. The flow out of the vaccine is a very important element to us returning to a stable life. Interruptions are a challenge and this to my family in Ireland at the moment has become a disturbance. With the help of Him who loves us and died for us, obstacles will be overcome. Jesus bows His Head and dies.
The Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the Cross.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”. It is accomplished Jesus bows His head and dies –but there is no magic. His Divine intervention which was essential for our salvation has accomplished its purpose. God’s salvation for all of mankind. On a number of times during our years in our seminary, in preparation for priesthood, at retreats and lectures I have heard some great teachings on the focus of what was accomplished upon the cross, and how God could have restored to us all that was lost under Adam’s fall. Through one man, Adam, sin entered our world, but Jesus came down from heaven to put an end to sin and death. The love through which He accomplished this has been entrusted to us. Our purpose is to become the church working to bring God’s salvation into a broken sinful world. So this is the privilege offered to us –to work with Him to bring forgiveness, healing and a loving presence into people’s lives to restore God’s Kingdom –The Kingdom of Heaven.
The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the Cross.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”. The work of the church has commenced. The evil, the enemy is as active as ever. So the ministry of the scared, the very scariest one run away from the scene, naked and afraid. The soldiers have not been disbanded and the work of the Sanhedrin continued. Preparation by God’s providence for the burial could take place, as Joseph of Arimathea became God’s instrument. Permission was granted and a tomb, newly hewn from rock, prepared. Nicodemus came as well, and he brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about 100 pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices, following the Jewish custom. The work of salvation will go on until the fullness of time. We are privileged people.
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb.
“We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee”. The body has been embalmed. The enemy is still on the job, guards are posted. Growing up on a farm I was involved with the burial of animals from a very young age. This brings death home. So for me a Christian funeral is profoundly different. We have the greatest symbol presented to us by Jesus. “Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies it remains a single grain, but if it dies in the ground it produces one hundred fold”. This comes homes to me at the altar for Mass as the consecration takes place. Holy Week is on our doorstep. Let us bring our greatest care and attention to these events: The Resurrection, The Ascension, and above all Pentecost. From these we might receive strength and joy –a new Pentecost –new fruits that will last, and please God, we can move on from the coronavirus.