The Eleventh Station: Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
We adore you O Christ and we praise you.
Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Remember
‘Stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it,
that the people may go on dry ground through the sea’ (Exodus 14:16).
Reflect
In this station we remember all those affected by violence or betrayal
St John’s Gospel (6:67) records a story about the closest friends of Jesus
who reject him. They turn their backs on him.
He looks to his disciples and asks: ‘Will you also go away?’
It is as if the future of the mission of Jesus hangs on this question.
Maybe even the future of Christianity rests in the balance.
St Peter is the one who answers:
‘To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’
In the face of disappointment, destruction and devastation
we glimpse the aching and anguished face of God.
Here in this station, God’s love is stretched to his finger-tips.
Poem
‘O changeless Christ, forever new,
who walked our earthly ways,
still draw our hearts as once you drew
the hearts of other days.’
(composed by Timothy Dudley-Smith)
Pray
Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord,
Your Grace into our hearts;
that as we have known the incarnation of Christ,
your Son by the message of an angel,
so by His passion and cross
we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.
Through the same Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Sing
Praise to the Holiest in the height,
And in the depth be praise:
In all His words most wonderful;
Most sure in all His ways.
And in the garden secretly,
And on the cross on high,
Should teach His brethren, and inspire
To suffer and to die.
( ‘Praise to the Holiest’, by Bl.John Henry Newman, 1801–1890)
Thanks
Our Thanks go to John Cullen, P.P., author of the book ‘Calvary Covenant’ and Donal Neary, S.J. author of ‘Gospel Reflections for the Sundays of Year B’: Mark for the use of their books published by Messenger publications, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
