April 10, 2009 3:31 PM
Stations of the Cross - for all Christians
Evangelicals tend to be suspicious of Catholic symbols and rituals. Perhaps this needs to be revisited. There are symbols and rituals connected with honoring our country, for example - as well as personal traditions which bond family members and build a heritage. Why wouldn't it be okay to have symbols and rituals which draw us closer to Christ?
I know that Catholics and Evangelicals both read this bog - and thank you for your open-mindedness. I was blessed to be in the company of predominantly evangelical and Protestant Christian writers and editors last week at Mount Hermon. I still feel at home among them. And most feel at home around me.
Many Catholics prepare for Easter by going to Confession. But even if this is not part of your faith tradition, Good Friday is a time when as we remember Christ dying for our sins, we can get real about our contribution to the pain and suffering He went through. For me. For you. For each of us.
The Stations of the Cross is a meaningful and poignant way to remember what was done for us on the first Good Friday. You can find them in any Catholic church and you can do them individually any time throughout the year. Or you can find them online and contemplate them yourself or with your children.
Here is a site I found with exceptionally relevant and intelligent meditations by Sister Angelica - I've included the First Station so you can see what they're like:
The First Station:
Jesus Is Condemned To DeathMy Jesus, the world still has You on trial. It keeps asking who You are and why You make the demands You make. It asks over and over the question, If You are God's Son, why do You permit the world to be in the state it is in? Why are You so silent?
Though the arrogance of the world angers me, I must admit that silently, in the depths of my soul, I too have these questions. Your humility frustrates me and makes me uncomfortable. Your strength before Pilate as You drank deeply from the power of the Father, gives me the answer to my question - The Father's Will. The Father permits many sufferings in my life but it is all for my good. If only I too could be silent in the face of worldly prudence - steadfast in the faith when all seems lost - calm when accused unjustly - free from tyranny of human respect - ready to do the Father's Will no matter how difficult.
Silent Jesus, give us all the graces we need to stand tall in the face of the ridicule of the world. Give the poor the strength not to succumb to their privation but to be ever aware of their dignity as sons of God. Grant that we might not bend to the crippling disease of worldly glory but be willing to be deprived of all things rather than lose Your friendship. My Jesus, though we are accused daily of being fools, let the vision of Quiet Dignity standing before Monstrous Injustice, give us all the courage to be Your followers.
Amen
You can "walk" through the 14 Stations here. I pray they challenge, bless and draw you closer to Jesus.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can read more about my journey from Evangelical to Catholicism by scrolling to the bottom here and reading forward.
Posted in Catholicism, Easter, Inspiration | Permalink
Comments
I wish I had read this earlier. My baptist church did not have Good Friday service so I had to choose between the Presbyterian Church and the Catholic Church. I called the Catholic Church and got a recording saying it was a stations of the cross service. I had NO CLUE what that meant. So I chose the Presbyterian Church. Oh well. Next year, God willing, I'll be at the Catholic service :) Thanks for the info and I'm going to read about all the stations.
Posted by: Alison | April 10, 2009 9:53 PM
Thanks for sharing this site. Last year our church did a stations of the cross, it was very moving experience. Blessings
Posted by: Holly | April 11, 2009 12:20 AM
