A Good Friday Meditation On the Stations of

A Good Friday Meditation On the Stations of the Cross

The History of the Stations The Jewish requirement of making an annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land set the stage for what we, today, call the Stations of the Cross. The earliest Christians would make pilgrimages to the Holy Land to see the places Jesus walked and where he experienced his death and resurrection. This to be called the “Via Cruces”, the Way of the Cross.

The Stations as we know them today originated in medieval Europe when wars prevented Christian pilgrims from visiting the Holy Land.

European artists created works depicting scenes of Christ's journey to Calvary. The faithful installed these sculptures or paintings at intervals along a procession route, inside the parish church or outdoors.

In the 1500’s replicas of the “way of the cross, ” Jesus journey to the crucifixion, began to appear in churches. Small shrines marked the stops along the way. These eventually became the 14 Stations of the Cross. Performing the devotion meant walking the entire route, stopping to pray at each "station. "

Why Should I Pray the Stations? It is very easy in our lives to be estranged from Jesus’ crucifixion. We can place the suffering and death in the past, perhaps even as a legend, and then maybe a myth, and then just a good story. However, when this happens we lose the powerful message Jesus taught, and lived, sacrificing all to show us the way to life victorious. We pray the Stations to assimilate this powerful teaching of ultimate overcoming.

Some Current Observations Over the years many people in the Phillipines have chosen to commemorate Jesus crucifixion on Good Friday through an annual lenten ritual of being literally nailed to the cross. One, 15 times, many others fewer times in bloody rituals to mark Good Friday penance and seek answers to prayers. Scores more flogged themselves.

The people were crucified with nails sterilized in alcohol. One man, long-haired and bearded, wore a dark red robe, a crown made of thorny vines and sandals. He gave instructions on where to pound the nails - in between the bones of his hands and feet - but still grimaced as they were driven in. He was also tied to the cross with pieces of cloth around his arms to support him as he hung. He stayed in place for a few minutes under the scorching sun before he was hauled down and another took his place.

Could this be what Jesus would want us to do? While I respect those who choose to honor Jesus’ sacrifice in this way, I believe that the best way to honor Jesus life, death and resurrection would be to live in the way He taught, and to be willing to do what we need to do, sacrifice what we need to sacrifice (sacrifice = make holy), and to seek understanding of what that is.

How The Stations are Presented This presentation of the Stations seeks to assist in the process of understanding by combining the literal, moral, and spiritual interpretation as practiced since ancient times, taught by great Christian spiritual leaders such as Origen, combining theology and philosophy; the letter and heart of the Law.

The Journey Begins I invite you to join me, walking the Way of the Cross in our consciousness, pondering Jesus’ experience, and what that means n our lives. Exploring the relationship between the events, and the ways we can change our thoughts, words, feelings and actions that will bring “repentance, ” a change of mind and heart that will overcome the erroneous thoughts and beliefs that continue to bring pain and suffering into our lives and the world we live in. THIS is what I believe Jesus would want.

Preparation And so, I invite you to take a moment to relax…turn off the phone, television, cell phone…and enter a time of silent meditation. Remove outer distractions. Close the door, and open your mind and heart.

Prayer Dear God, be with me today as I reflect on the culmination of Jesus’ life journey… that which He said, “For this I was born…” Fill my mind and heart with thoughts, words and images of wisdom and love. Help me to grasp the message Jesus brought for me, and Your plan for my life. AMEN

Station One: Jesus is Condemned to Die Jesus was volleyed between Herod and Pilate, neither being able to condemn Him for any just cause. They could find no crime to accuse Him of. Pilate also saw that he needed to do something or bear the consequences of mob violence. To satisfy the crowd, he washed his hands telling the people that he washing his hands of Jesus' blood, and condemned him to die. Jesus was then flogged and sent out to be crucified. The Gospels also tell us that on that same day, Herod and Pilate became friends with each other, before this they had been enemies.

Going Deeper There is an ongoing battle within each of our hearts and minds. We are torn between the carnal, lower nature and the higher, spiritual nature. The lower nature is represented by the consciousness that condemned Jesus. It is ego, or self-centered and fearful of any challenge to the “status quo” of whatever it wants or possesses, and strives to eliminate threat. Hold in your mind and heart the words of Paul, Christ in you…your Hope of Glory! Rise up! BE the Spiritual Child of God you were created to be.

The Second Station, Jesus is made to bear His cross. The heavy cross was placed on Jesus back, raw from the flogging. He would have to carry the cross all the way to his inevitable suffering

Going Deeper In our lives we each have a cross to bear. . . it is the area in our lives that we need to transform; it is the vehicle through which we can overcome the “death” of spiritual stagnancy and having to experience negative lessons over and over again. The decision to do as Jesus said, “pick up your cross and follow me, ” to face whatever challenge is before us, is a critical step in our overcoming. We can deny that the challenge has any power in our life, but we cannot deny the challenge exists.

The Third Station, Jesus falls for the first time Jesus struggled along the rugged and rough road, each step pressing the rough wood deeper into the existing wounds, each step bringing more pain.

Going Deeper We can relate in these instances, to the many times we struggle and stumble as we walk our path to transformation. We fall, exhausted and in pain, be it mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical. There is a great temptation to lay down and “die. ” To give up the struggle for a “still more excellent life. , to complain or lash out improperly or blame. ” Jesus fell. . . and then got up and kept moving. Each time we give up on our own potential, we crucify the Christ.

The Fourth Station Jesus meets His mother How sad it must have been for Jesus to face his mother in such a state of being; beaten and bloodied. What could she be thinking about all the wonderful things he had taught; about the promises she had received from angel? How must He have felt as He looked into His mother’s tortured eyes?

Going Deeper This is truly a test for the emotions and ego. For us, this can represent the times when our best efforts, fail, when all we believed suddenly seems to be illusion. When our world crumbles around us and we watch helpless as something precious is taken; when we have sorely disappointed someone we deeply love. We crucify the inner Christ whenever we look at suffering and failure as Truth. When we let appearances become reality, which prevents us from looking beyond to God.

The Fifth Station Simon helps Jesus carry His cross As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. Some sources say that Simon was forced to carry Jesus’ cross so that he would not die on the journey.

Going Deeper There are times when we too, need help. Whether the help is offered willingly or not, we often deny the use of the help we need. When we do not accept the help that God provides through others, we block not only our good, but the good of those who desire to help. To not accept help is to be victim to our own pride. Release your pride. Who is wanting to help you today?

The Sixth Station Veronica wipes the face of Jesus History tells us her name was actually Seraphia and she was the wife of an influential member of the Sanhedrin, who had long been a follower of Jesus. This is likely the only reason that she was allowed to approach so closely. She wiped Jesus’ face with her veil, which the image of Jesus could later be seen, almost perfectly preserved in dried blood.

Going Deeper Whenever we reach out in love and comfort to another who is suffering our very soul is imprinted with the face of Christ…it is a reflection of the Spirit of Christ Universal, expressing through kind words, thoughts, prayers and actions and the gratitude of the recipient. We ask ourselves, How can I reflect Christ today?

The Seventh Station Jesus falls for the second time When Jesus fell the second time, I am sure that getting back up was even more difficult in His weakened state. But he did get back up. He got back up even though he knew what awaited him at the end of his journey.

Going Deeper How often do we give up after falling down just once…or even stumbling in our attempts for personal, professional or spiritual achievement? We must remember that failure is not real failure until we give up while still desiring our goal. Sometimes it is more difficult to get up because we know what lies ahead. These are the times to remember Jesus’ faith and strength and to pick ourselves up and continue our journey.

The Eighth Station Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalelm A multitude of people followed the journey of Jesus, walking along side…lined up for this horrible spectacle…reaching out to him, weeping. But Jesus said, “"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, `Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed. ’”

Going Deeper This is a perfect example of our misunderstanding of Jesus’ mission. Jesus’ words clearly spoke of the need for us to embrace His teaching; to give up the consciousness that brought about the crucifixion and to live God-centered lives…goodcentered lives that will bring forth a world of peace and plenty, and the consequences of not doing so. Cause and Effect. We can begin today to set forth new, positive cause which will reap new, positive effect.

The Ninth Station Jesus falls for the third time We consider how difficult it must have been for Jesus to yet fall again with the rough edges of the cross cutting into his beaten and bloodied flesh…and yet he did stand again.

Going Deeper There are times when the crosses we bear…the difficult circumstances and learning experiences of our lives bring us to our knees. What Jesus teaches us here, is to get up yet again, even if the road before us is threatening. Both 9 and 3 are spiritual numbers indicating completion. The “ 3” can indicate overcoming of the “flesh, ” or lower nature and the “ 9” completion in soul development. In order to be ready for His greatest overcoming, Jesus completed, body and soul, and teaches us to complete the process of spiritual development that we came here to accomplish.

The Tenth Station Jesus is stripped of His garments How humiliating it must have been to have the very garments he wore uncaringly pulled from his body…how sad that the Roman soldiers cast lots for them.

Going Deeper Spiritually this represents the stripping away of the images we may hold of ourselves. During the course of our lives we may be stripped of what we call our “identity, ” we may be stripped of our title, our financial security, our job or anything else that we consider an important part of what we are. Being stripped of his garments however, did not change Jesus’ true identity, which is Christ…Son of God. Nor will being stripped of your earthly garments, titles, positions, etc. take away your true Christ identity.

The Eleventh Station Jesus is nailed to the cross I cannot imagine the unbearable pain of large spikes piercing Jesus’ sensitive flesh on His hands, or wrists as historians say was typical of crucifixion, and feet…or the hard wood which His hands and feet were pressed into.

Going Deeper The piercing of the hands and feet can represent the pain that comes to us as we strive for the final overcoming of EVERY human…carnal…ego-centered…error thought, feeling, habit and belief. The hands represent the things we have done, and the feet represent the understanding or beliefs we hold which, when erroneous keep us bound to the cross of crucifixion eternally. We must give up all attachment to the things of this world to enter the state of consciousness required for eternal life in the Kingdom, and this is painful. Most of have our pet “sins” (errors) that we resist letting go of. Some of us would rather die than forgive, some would rather die than give up carnal pleasures. Some would rather die than give up our perceived power even our opinion.

The Twelfth Station Jesus dies on the cross Jesus said, “Father, Unto YOUR hands I commit my Spirit. He released all attachment to the human experience and entrusted all to the hands of the Father

Going Deeper Jesus fully trusted and released his life to God’s hands. He died to the “flesh”. At that moment he became fully free from susceptibility to anything in the earthly realm. Jesus went to the cross…he stood firmly and faced down anything contrary to what he KNEW to be true. We must ask ourselves, how far are we willing to go for what we believe to be true? What are we willing to stand firm on? How quickly do we “cave in” when we are confronted about our beliefs? Do we speak our truth and stay true to our word? True overcoming comes when we trust all we know to be true and place our lives and all our affairs in God’s most capable hands.

The Thirteenth Station Jesus is taken down from the cross As sundown approached, Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus arrived, and gently removed the body of Jesus from the cross. Joseph, a Jew and follower of Jesus had gone secretly (because of fear of the Jews) to Pilate to receive permission to care for His body. They did not want the body to be on the cross on the Sabbath.

Going Deeper Our focus now turns to the observers of the crucifixion…those who loved him, those who feared him…those who believed and those who did not. For all rights and purposes it looked as if it were all over. Jesus was dead. This is very important because it had to be clear that He was dead, or it could never be proven that He overcame even death. So often in our lives it looks as if all is lost. Let this lesson remind us not to judge by appearances.

The Fourteenth Station Jesus is laid in the tomb Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus prepared Jesus’ body for burial. They anointed it with myrrh and aloes and wrapped it in linen cloths. They laid him in a new sepulchre (tomb) in the garden and placed before the door of the tomb a great stone.

Going Deeper In the tomb, the real overcoming began. With the world shut out and in a new place, the spiritual metamorphosis of Jesus resurrection began. The Nicene Creed says that Jesus “decended into hell” for three days. Spiritually, for us this can represent the overcoming of our ultimate error belief…death…fear…loss of life…as we know it. To have our resurrection to eternal life we need to block out the thoughts, feelings and beliefs that are contrary to what we know to be true. We, too, need to do our “tomb time. ”

Conclusion Let us end our time of prayer and meditation here…at the tomb…let us do as Jesus did, and commend all that we are, all that we ever hope to be, to God’s loving care and keeping. And so it is! Amen…Sealed in faith…AMEN

This Meditation Presented Courtesy of Rev. Alicia-Leslie and Spirit of Unity Church Please receive this as a gift from my heart and soul to yours. There is no charge asked and none expected. Of course if you have been particularly blessed, and have a desire to support this ministry, donations can be sent to: Rev. Alicia-Leslie 9 North Moodus Road Moodus CT 06469 All donations will be dedicated to the mission and vision of Spirit of Unity Church, presently being planted in Middletown, CT. Please do feel free to share freely with friends and family.