I resisted going for the Stations of the Cross. Back from school on a Friday, I wanted to enjoy the whole weekend and not be bothered by another ‘Church stuff.’ Mom’s invitation to go fell on deaf ears. One Friday, I decided to go and something in me changed that day. I have never missed it ever since. What happened that day? When we got to the 4th Station – ‘Jesus meets Mary, His Mother.’ As a child, I had pity for Mary. Their eyes met. And Mary could not do anything to stop the suffering of her child. I was deeply touched because I know something of the suffering of my own mother when I was ill. There were times when she watched me suffer and tried the best she could to take away the suffering but could not. Her presence and love was the only comfort I had. The following Friday, I was touched again when I heard: ‘Crucify Him!! Away with Him!!’ I remember saying to myself: what did He do to deserve all this? It was real for me. I wished I could defend him. When we got to the 13th Station, it happened again for me: ‘They took Jesus from the Cross and placed His dead body on Mary’s lap, the same child who was born to her in Bethlehem; evil has done its worst.’ Those lines had never left me.
I have since been growing in my love for Jesus and Mary through the Stations. I think of parents who suffer because of the sufferings of their children. I think of the society that often says to Jesus: ‘away, away, we don’t want you. You upset us… away, away…’
I watched a movie called ‘Risen’ In one of the scenes, people were shouting: ‘Crucify Him’ Amidst all the shout was a lone voice – the voice of Mary Magdalene – saying; “spare Him, spare Him.’
To pray the Stations is to be like the lone voice of Mary, to say: ‘Jesus, we want you, we love you. Like Veronica, we want to wipe your face (and the faces of our brothers and sisters who suffer) covered with sweat and blood; like Simeon, we want to help you carry your cross as we help our families, friends and loved ones (and strangers) in carrying their own crosses.
Come join us every Friday in Lent from 6:30pm – 7:05pm.
First Holy Communion: We are looking forward to a day when the splendor of Jesus will shine forth in a new way: when our young ones will receive Jesus for the first time in their hearts and have Him as their friend forever. On that day, we will renew our own friendship with Jesus. Please kindly pray for them. Names are listed on page 2 of the bulletin.
Confirmation: Please kindly pray for our Confirmation candidates, too, as they prepare to receive the Holy Spirit as the Companion for life.
The Sick and the Elderly: Please also keep in your prayers the sick whose names are listed to the left and also for every other sick person and for the elderly in our community.
~ Fr Obi