Sitting with the Sacred

This post is a continuation of my Lenten reflections on the Scriptural Stations of the Cross. The station titles and scripture and verse citations, except where otherwise noted, are published on USCCB.org.

Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross

(John 19: 6, 15-17)

Words are powerful. Help me, Lord, to remember this, and help me to use their power to do good. Help me to use them to build faith, hope, charity, justice, and mercy. May my words never stand in the way of anyone receiving and sharing Your gifts.

Help me to make the best of every situation by seeking and recognizing Your presence in each one, especially when I’m confronted with and affected by words and actions that don’t seem to foster faith, hope, charity, justice, and mercy.

Help me to do Your will and to feel Your presence, especially when I feel afraid, confused, weak, and alone. Strengthen me when I feel powerless. Increase my faith that you have given and will give me what I need to do what you ask. Amen.

Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross

(Mark 15: 21)

Lord, help me to remember that when I join my crosses — the annoyances, the struggles, and the pain in my life — to yours, when I don’t allow my crosses to hold me down but instead trust that You will help me move forward while carrying them, I take part in my own redemption and the redemption of Your creation. Thank You for showing me through Simon and others how to do this, and thank You for giving my carrying of my crosses and the crosses of others redemptive power through Your passion and resurrection. Thank You also for teaching me through the role of Simon on the way of Your cross that I take part in Your redemptive work even when I don’t receive crosses willingly. Grant me the grace to accept and to share crosses willingly, nonetheless. Grant me the patience and discernment I need to share the crosses of the brothers and sisters closest to me and the closest those who are suffering throughout the world. Amen.