Station 14
The cross was such a heavy load for Jesus that soldiers had to force a passer-by, Simon, a Libyan, to carry the cross behind Jesus. Legend says that Jesus fell down under the weight of the cross three times. Take a rock now and hold it. What loads are you carrying deep inside? Work pressures? Worries about money? Fears? Illness? Ask God to show you those worries that you particularly need to let go of, then take the rock with you as you go. Pray over the worries for a while, then place the rock at the foot of the cross and as you do, try to give that burden to God.
Children: Jesus needed someone to carry his cross for him because it was too heavy. Sometimes our problems can make us feel like we are carrying heavy things, we can have lots of things to worry about. Imagine your worries are this rock and as you take it to the cross, pray about it and leave it at the cross.
Station 15
Just sit at the cross for a while, spend some time with God, talking about whatever you wish. “With a smiling face, Jesus looked at his side… there he showed me a place, beautiful and delightful, large enough for all saved humanity to rest in peace and love… And as I looked, he showed me his heart, broken in two… He helped me to understand, a little, anyhow, how God was teaching us poor souls, to appreciate the Eternal Love of God that has no beginning or end. At the same time, our Good Lord said, most beautifully, “See how I have loved you.”’ (Paraphrased from Dame Julian of
Children: When Jesus died on the cross he was showing how much he loved and cared for us and that he would always love and care for us. Take a moment to sit next to the cross and talk to Jesus, tell him anything that you are thinking about, he loves it when we talk with him.
Station 16
‘Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing!’
These are the words Jesus cried out as they were banging the nails into his palms. Sometimes, it is very hard to forgive, especially when we are still hurting. But when we are wounded by someone, Jesus is hurt too. Hold a nail in one of your hands, and ask God to give you the strength to be able to forgive they way he did.
You may also want to look at the children’s activity and do that as well.
Children: Although some people thought that when Jesus died on the cross it would be the end they were wrong. It was actually the beginning of something very special. Use the lollypop sticks to make a cross shape and take it home with you. Thank God for all he has done. When you go home and look at the cross you can remember the love that lasts forever.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort.And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called
It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of the Jews.’ And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!’ In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
The Death of Jesus
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’
There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to
The Burial of Jesus
When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time.When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.
No comments:
Post a Comment