April 2, 2010 10:39 AM
The Stations of the Cross - for all believers
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 really feel we all can learn from each other.
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.
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You can read more about my journey from Evangelical to Catholicism by scrolling to the bottom here and reading forward.
Comments
I read through this a year or 2 ago maybe I found it through your site, even though I am not catholic I found the stations of the cross to be very moving and made me feel and think much more deeply about the work Christ has done for us .Often it has seemed Easter is just told in storybook fashion.Thank you so much for posting this.
Posted by: karen | April 3, 2010 6:11 AM
