CROSSWAY

Phil

Mar 84 min read

YOU WERE AN INCOMER........

before you first knocked on my door,

You were a Stranger, far from home,

and yet you made me feel

that I was the alien

and the home was yours.

You knew me before I said,

'Will you come in?"

They never made you welcome.

No room at the Inn; only a stable.

No red carpet treatment for you;

only a cross.”

You are the caller,

You are the poor;

You are the stranger at my door.

You are the wanderer,

The unfed;

You are the homeless with no bed.

You are the person driven insane,

You are the child crying in pain.

You are the other who comes to me,

If I open to another

you’re born in me. David Adam

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come, thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

We glory in your cross, O Lord,

for by virtue of the cross,

joy has come to the whole world.

FIRST STATION :

JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DIE

We adore you O Christ, and we praise you,because by your Holy Cross

you have redeemed the world.

The play-acting in front of a weak-minded judge. Pilate is frightened –

of the Jews, of Caesar, of Christ.

The hand-washing is the crowning sign of his weakness. He had the authority to release Jesus, but he was afraid of the crowd and the Temple authorities.

Pilate found it hard to judge Jesus.

To him, at best Jesus was just another Galilean revolutionary, or more likely, just a deluded individual. What did Pilate know?

Is it ever for me to judge another? Help me to judge others as I would have them judge me. Teach me to judge others as I would have God judge me.

Give me the grace to see, respect and love you in all people, both innocent and guilty. May I see with new eyes those I might otherwise condemn.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

SECOND STATION:

JESUS TAKES UP HIS CROSS

We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross

you have redeemed the world.

Pilate asked: “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered,

“We have no king but Caesar.”

Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross…

(John 19)

There are burdens we all carry, some are obvious and others we try to hide;

illness, pain, disability, old age, dependence, and caring for someone who no longer knows who we are,

of loneliness and of isolation.

The burden of constant fear, living under the threat of hatred, reprisal, tyranny, in an ever-increasingly violent world. Who or what am I carrying at present?

You accepted your Cross, Lord Jesus, because it was the key to unlock for us

the way through to love and life. May we, in faith and trust,

accept the crosses that are placed upon us through life.

Strengthened by the Christ who has walked the way before us,

may we be led into abundant life and Godly purpose.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

THIRD STATION :

JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

We adore you O Christ,

and we praise you,

because by your Holy Cross

you have redeemed the world.

It is not surprising that Jesus falls.

The cross is heavy, he had been cruelly scourged, and the midday heat in Jerusalem is fierce.The ground is uneven, and the crowds press around.

We also fall under the weight of global fear. As we lie on the ground – literally and metaphorically – we see that Jesus is there with us, floored.

Together with Jesus, we find extra strength to get up and carry on.

Lord Jesus, in falling under the weight of Your cross, You identify Yourself with all who fall. You understand those who experience failure and weakness, and Your Heart goes out to them. Give me this same compassionate heart for others, and when things seem unmanageable, give me the strength to persevere.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

O gracious and holy Father,

Give us wisdom to perceive you,

intelligence to understand you,

diligence to seek you,

patience to wait for you,

eyes to see you,

a heart to meditate on you,