The Pathway of the Cross

Dear Friend:
Lent, a period to retreat and reflect, is time for the faithful in Christ to escape regular life styles and ponder on the great sacrifice of the Lord who came to earth in a vessel of clay to fulfill our redemption. It’s a time to take a journey, walking down the same muddy road, where the Lord walked with the Cross so we could walk in happiness; a time to reflect and soak in God’s free love reaching us despite our sins. A time to handover the reins of our lives to our Father and cling to Him in repentance. Then we can be sure He will say, come back to me…I will not remain angry with you, for I am merciful, I will not continue with my anger forever.

The theme of our reflection and journey with the Lord today is enunciated by some very unusual objects witnessing the pains Jesus underwent on the journey to the Cross. For a few moments, allow your mind to dwell on the happenings unfolding before you and plead with God for the Grace needed on the way so that as you near the end you can truly feel the healing power of the Cross and marvel at the compassion of our God.
You may use any posture as you deem fit as you read this, but kneel down if you can and pursue the journey meditatively. The Holy Spirit will guide and lead you making you feel Jesus' presence right till the top of Calvary. Confess your sins to the Lord as you remember them and enjoy His healing Grace as you move.

Station 1

Jesus Christ is condemned to death

Pilate brought down the hammer on the table sentencing the Lord to death. He hit hard, showing his helplessness. The hammer couldn’t believe it. Pilate had used him to sentence an innocent man to death. It was struck on the table many times, but in condemning offenders and murderers. Never before did the iron strike the table in condemning an innocent man and here, the Most Holy and Righteous One was condemned. The hammer bowed down. Ashamed.

We reflect

Think, are you fair in your actions, particularly with your neighbors. Have you condemned someone unjustly? Even the hammer flinched at Jesus’ sentencing, but you, are you ashamed of your actions. Are you doing something because you are afraid of the situation and want to gain favor from somebody? Are you more concerned about your safety than the fact that you condemned someone unjustly? What will the Lord say to this?
Take this to the Lord and ask Him to change you. Pilate, although he felt sad, didn’t change. But you can because Jesus can change you and He will make you a new creation.

Station II

The Cross is laid upon the Lord

The Cross was made of rough timber and the same wood was used to execute many. It would look kindly at those who were hung on it, but knew they deserved the punishment; but when laid on the bruised shoulders of Jesus, it flinched for it knew He was innocent. That some day, it would be used to crucify the Righteous One was something it had never considered.

We reflect

Life takes you through extraordinary situations. In those, have you been a comfort to people? Have you shrunk from criticizing people you know are innocent? In your position at work or elsewhere, have you tried to stand against injustice, raising your voice on behalf of the weak or have you overburdened them because you can. Take the ‘bai’ who works in your house for a few rupees: Have you been a pain to her? The wood of the Cross would have nothing to do with Jesus’ crucifixion if it had a choice; what about you?
Pray now that God gives you the sense of right judgment in all things so that you can discern what you should do, fully depending on God to help when you stand up for right.


Station III

Jesus falls – the first time

The Cross was heavy and Jesus hadn’t a wink of sleep that night. His body was bruised. Every inch of skin and flesh torn with the horrible beating he had received. Suddenly, His energy sapped and He fell. The ground welcomed Him. He was its master and it was ready to give its bosom that day to support Him in whatever way it could. The ground knew its Master could do no wrong, yet…! It was slightly wet as if crying about the injustice and sure it would like to lift Him up and seat Him on itself but couldn’t. So as long as He lingered on it, it gave Him solid support, hoping someone would lift Him.

We reflect

Men are ordained to fall so they realise their weakness. Sometimes, we make others’ fall had to show them we are stronger. We ridicule and laugh at them. Have you done this to your colleague at the office who was just sacked? Or to your neighbor, when they had a financial crunch saying, ‘you deserve it?’ Even the ground shook in disgust at the fall of the Lord of the universe, what do you do when your neighbor falls?
It’s time to renew our thinking. To put off the ‘old man’ and wear the ‘new one’ given by Jesus Christ to each one of His followers who wants to change.

Station IV

Jesus meets His mother

Mary was there. Her heart tore when she saw Him being scourged and now He was crawling up the hill with the Cross. It shrank in pain and sorrow. It couldn’t bear to say a thing except make her take His hands and hold Him in a warm motherly embrace. Mary’s heart realised how much the embrace meant for Jesus and even though, it felt as if a sword had passed through, tearing it asunder, it braced itself up to remain strong till the end.

We reflect

If someone in pain comes to you, does she go back consoled as if you were a balm? Or is your heart so crude that you turn away that person and leave her to fend for herself? Is your heart cold and callous without the ability to understand the suffering of another? And by the way, have you turned away your brother or sister just because he or she desperately needed a little help and you didn’t help?
The moment has come to take a peek at your heart and see if love abides or steel. If steel, pray to the Lord to give you a heart of flesh…a heart meant for love alone.

Station V

Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the Cross

Simon of Cyrene was well built and in Jerusalem for the feast. Noticing a commotion, he saw a very tired Man bearing the Cross. Something made him look at the Man. His heart moved within him crying that the Man was innocent. The soldiers were forcing the Man to move fast but He couldn’t, so they turned to Simon and ordered him to bear the Cross. Simon didn’t want to be involved, but his heart urged him to help the Man. It told him to look into the eyes of the Lord; and when Simon did, he couldn’t help but feel pain, the pain of rejection; it was as if his heart and the Man’s heart were communicating and though Simon was stronger physically, he realised there was something divine here and quietly he moved ahead.

We reflect

How many times have we seen a fellow human being in pain and ignored him? How many times have we not been moved by the plight of the weaker sections of the society, not bothering. You know, Jesus said, ‘whatsoever you do to the least of My brothers, you do it to Me.’ Are we following His advice? Are we ready to pick up the fallen and speak on behalf of the poor man?
Right now, tell the Lord to grant you the Grace to be bold in supporting the weak. Grace to console much and help without any expectation. Then your reward will be great in Heaven.

Station VI

Veronica wipes the face of Christ

The piece of cloth with Veronica was new. Veronica used this cloth to wipe the Lord’s face. The napkin had never known such an experience. Imagine, it had had the good fortune to wipe the countenance of the Blessed One! But wait, it was sad that it had to do that. How much it wanted it to be another way than this! Still, it was delighted to help comforting the Lord for even so little a time and suddenly, it got the imprint of that beautiful face…the napkin was humbled and worshipped God.

We reflect

Remember the times when you were very tired with dust and grime all over your face in completing a difficult physical task. Didn’t you enjoy being wiped on the face lovingly? Do you recall having done such a thing for a tired one? Wasn’t it like sharing the tiredness of another? It is the finest example of a Christ-like life and the only way to exhibit the fruit of humility in us human beings. Pray to God that you turn from your callousness and learn to understand the pain of others. Soon you’ll realise how God reaches out to you in all your strife.

Station VII

Jesus falls – the second time

The exertion was great and the Lord tripped on a stone and fell on it and the Cross fell on Him. The stone crushed His knees and sent a searing shaft of pain through His body. The stone was quite big but it was now aghast that it was big and that it had injured its owner. If only he was a little small, the Lord would not had to bear the pain it did…but alas, because of it, Jesus fell and injured His knee. It was a stone, but still saw the injustice…it would prefer if someone picked it up and hurled at those who condemned the Lord. But what to do, it was just a stone and in silence, He saw the misery yet also knew the Victor was the loser in this.

We reflect

Think about the times when you’ve been the cause of misery for another person. Think about how because of you someone has fallen. You may have felt some joy at being the cause of someone’s downfall but deep inside were you happy? Were you glad about such a thing? If you were, never mind, God understands our nature. He will forgive if you go before Him and confess your sins and He will give you the Grace to sin no more.

Station VIII

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

As a group they wailed for Him not understanding the scenes unfolding before their eyes. Jesus was a righteous Man and He had done much good. Then why were they destroying Him? What was His fault? Among them was this woman whom Jesus had healed from a severe eye problem. Her eyes moist, she observed His suffering in silence; they spoke her gratitude as He came close and also reflected her lack of power to do anything. They became more moist even as He came closer and in a way shouted, ‘Lord you healed me, yet forgive me for I can do nothing’. But Jesus looked at them lovingly as if to say, thank you.

We reflect

Has someone come to you when you were in pain and thanked you? What was your response? Did you chide the person for choosing a wrong time? Great are you when you consider not your own suffering but appreciate the joys of another.

Station IX

Jesus falls – the third time

Jesus was drained. Tired and flat. Not noticing a fallen branch, He tripped and fell. The branch winced. Even as the Lord’s body fell flat on it hurting His ribs, it shuddered. Why did I have to be here it thought? It did not understand why men wanted its Master killed? What had He done wrong except that He stood up for the poor and taught things which were right before God. People earlier had tripped on it and been helped up. But now it seemed no one wanted to help Him. It was miserable; if only it could give a hand in raising Him up…

We reflect

Do you know, every time someone falls, you have two choices – one to help him get up or two, to laugh at his fall. What choice do you make? Have you in the last 24 hours helped someone who fell? If you don’t have it in you to pick up the fallen, go to the Lord, he’ll provide the Grace to mend your heart so it is ready to help.

Station X

Jesus is stripped of His Garments

Now the hour had come. They removed His garments off Him. The air around Him was cool though mixed with sunlight. When this air contacted the bare body of the Lord, it removed the sweat off. It erased the heat of the sunlight and brought cooler air to make Him feel a little comfortable. It had understood the mindless act that men were committing against Him, but was happy atleast it could do a little for its Maker.

We reflect

God’s world is beautiful and is filled with His glory. But sin lurking deep within us makes it terrible. Yet, like the air which could provide only a little cooling to the Lord, we also need to rise beyond our circumstances and bring cooling to the parched throat of the many who suffer. Greatness comes not from what I achieve, but what I do for others. Pray to the Lord that He’ll give you a mind that can understand this and work it in your life.

Station XI

Jesus is crucified

Yes, the soldiers were just waiting to finish the job. The nails in their hand looked ominous. One of the nails understanding what it was going to be used for, wanted to look too rusty so they would not use it. But they did, bringing down the hammer on it with tremendous power. The nail ran through His wrist tearing the blood vessels and the tissues and the nerves and cracking the bone. Ohhhhhh…it winced as the Lord let out a loud shriek. What had it done? It had caused much pain to its owner. But what could it do except in silence just stick fast to the wood of the Cross.

We reflect

Pain can be understood only in experience. No amount of talk can make one understand the meaning of pain. But that doesn’t mean we don’t sit with those who suffer. Yes, we need to go to the depths of the anguished people to know their pain. Only then will we find comfort in our own. Woe to him who’s never related to others’ pain for when he will be in pain none will relate to his.

Station XII

Jesus dies

The Cross on which He hung was raised and put in a base dug into the ground. Even as it was being lowered, the soft mud of the base was sad. In its bosom, it had embraced crosses of many, but this was different. The pain of bearing the weight of a man unfairly killed was great. The blood which would flow was innocent and capable of wiping out the sins of entire mankind, but for now, the base waited for a little of the blood so as to symbolically cleanse itself of the shame it had to bear. As Jesus gave up His Spirit, the base shuddered and shook. In that moment it understood the extent of love God had for man that He came to die for them.

We reflect

Many things in the world seem senseless, and we don’t know the purposes God has in them, but yet they work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. But have you ever sneered and teased those who have been dealt unfairly in life. Have you because of their sufferings tried to lord it over them? Approach the Lord to cleanse you of that character. He will shed His blood upon you and renew you.

Station XIII

Jesus’ body is taken down

Now it was over. Joseph of Arimathaea summoned the courage to ask Pilate for Jesus’ body which Pilate allowed. They took it down and wrapped it with a clean linen cloth. The cloth was coarse but good. As soon as it touched the body of Jesus, it was as if it learnt all that had happened to Him. It clung closer in embrace to the beaten and pierced body. It was as if the embrace of the cloth was to now shield Him from the horror of death, even after He had died. To shut out the evil of the world, even when He could feel no more but, it was all in vain.

We reflect

You know the person closest to you, best. Yet how many times have we tried to understand them? We may stay with someone but may never know them, leave alone their suffering. As for you, learn that in the human next door is God and in alleviating the pain of the other is like applying balm on the Lord itself.

Station IV

Jesus is laid in the tomb

The curtains have come down. Only the burial remained and the body was carried to the rock into which a grave was etched. The rock had witnessed many winters and many summers. But today, it seemed the earth did not partake in either. When the body of the Lord was laid into it, it was as if unexplained warmth came into it. Well, decided the rock, what a privilege to hold the Body of its Maker. After the shame men had given to Him, it thought it was its privilege to just hold on to His body to protect it from any further shame.

We reflect

Strange things can do unusal things for people. The rock of the tomb, gave the final repose to the Lord even as he lay dead as a Man, of course to rise in three days. As for you, have you ever provided succor to another person. Is the environment around you, good enough for someone to come and rest or do you repel others? Think about it and if there is the desire to do something, come to the Lord and saying, Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee, I want to be.


Concluding Prayer

Oh Lord, this experience on the path of Your cross has opened my eyes to many things. Let it now Lord encourage me to actually walk the way You did. Boldly, though it be tough. Straight, though I may fall. All with Your Grace enveloping me and strengthening me so that I bring glory to Your Name and that when people see me say, Here is a true disciple of Jesus. I make this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.