Secular Franciscan Way of the Cross – Station 9 – Jesus Falls the Third Time

The 9^th Station – Jesus falls the third time

M: We love you, O Lord

A: Because by your Holy Cross, and resurrection You have redeemed the world.

M: The Nineth Station – Jesus falls the third time.

“Yahweh guides a man’s steps,

they are sure, and he takes pleasure in his progress,

he may fall, but never fatally,

since Yahweh supports him by the hand. “ ( Psalm 37: 23-24)

A: Help us Lord, to fully live our vocation.

Reflection :

In the first fall, I look at myself in order to know in my heart and be ready to confess where I have fallen in my vocation, where I have not lived , not loved and not cared, and not loved as I should.

In the second fall I look at my brothers and sisters, and their fall, their pain, their woundedness and my response to it.

In this third fall Lord, I look at my own failure to forgive, or to love.

Have I in my vocation failed to love beyond my own pain, beyond my own judgment.

Am I the reason, that one of my brothers or sisters carry the wounds of their sin, or mine ?

Have I not shown the care and concern for my brother or sister, or sought out the opportunity to allow them to feel their own worth as a child of God ?

Did I fail in my vocation to be the Christ-bearer, and allow them to see Jesus and not see me?

Have I allowed them to feel loved and forgiven, even when I did not agree ? In my journey, knowing that I am human, and that I fall and fail, have I not only forgiven my brothers and sisters, but have I forgiven myself ? Knowing that I am imperfect, and that I have flaws that I know, can I love myself, while I strive to love my brothers and sisters as well ?

I must acknowledge that I am weak, carrying my own cross, but Jesus carried His cross, and gave me the example that in my vocation I too can pick up my own cross, and carry it through into God’s glory !In the first fall, I look at myself in order to know in my heart and be ready to confess where I have fallen in my vocation, where I have not lived , not loved and not cared, and not loved as I should.

In the second fall I look at my brothers and sisters, and their fall, their pain, their woundedness and my response to it.

In this third fall Lord, I look at my own failure to forgive, or to love.

Have I in my vocation failed to love beyond my own pain, beyond my own judgment.

Am I the reason, that one of my brothers or sisters carry the wounds of their sin, or mine ?

Have I not shown the care and concern for my brother or sister, or sought out the opportunity to allow them to feel their own worth as a child of God ?

Did I fail in my vocation to be the Christ-bearer, and allow them to see Jesus and not see me?

Have I allowed them to feel loved and forgiven, even when I did not agree ? In my journey, knowing that I am human, and that I fall and fail, have I not only forgiven my brothers and sisters, but have I forgiven myself ? Knowing that I am imperfect, and that I have flaws that I know, can I love myself, while I strive to love my brothers and sisters as well ?

I must acknowledge that I am weak, carrying my own cross, but Jesus carried His cross, and gave me the example that in my vocation I too can pick up my own cross, and carry it through into God’s glory !

Secular Franciscan Way of the Cross – Station 8 – Jesus Meets the Daughters of Jerusalem

By Fr. Pfettishem, Pethrus

8^th Station – Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem

M: We love you, O Lord

A: Because by your Holy Cross, and resurrection You have redeemed the world.

M: The Eighth Station – Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem

“Large numbers of people followed Him, and of women too who mourned and lamented for Him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘ Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, weep rather for yourselves and for your children. For the days will surely come when people will say. Happy are those who are barren, the wombs that have never borne, the breasts that have never suckled ! Then they will begin to say to the mountain, Fall on us ! , to the hill Cover us ! , for if men use the green wood like this , what will happen when it is dry ?”. Luke 23:27-31)

A: Help us Lord, to fully live our vocation.

Reflection:

In the course of my vocation as a Franciscan, do I lament things that are, and do nothing to change what it ? Will I look back at things that no longer are and cry over the loss wishing not to have had the experience or having been given the opportunity and done nothing ? Do I shrink from the responsibility my vocation gives me finding it easier to pass it on to others ? Have I complained, and not brought solutions to offer ways to solve the challenge ? Am I failing in my vocation to be peacekeeper and bridge builder in either my community or in other areas of my life ? Am I the user of the green wood or of the seasoned wood of Peace ?

Secular Franciscan Way of the Cross – Station 7 – Jesus Falls a Second Time

Art from Church of Notre-Dame-des-Champs, Avranches, Manche, Normandie, France. Fourteen enamel paintings, technique from Limoges, representing the Stations of the Cross (from WIkiMedia Commons.)

M: We love you, O Lord

A: Because by your Holy Cross, and resurrection You have redeemed the world.

M: Jesus falls the second time.

“ It was neither messenger not angel

But His presence that saved them.

In His love and piety

He redeemed them Himself,

He lifted them up, carried them,

Throughout the days of old”    (Psalm 63:9)

A: Help us Lord, to fully live our vocation.

Reflection:

In my vocation, have I loved our brothers and sisters who bear the imprint of the Most High ?

Have we loved our brothers and sisters who are carry the dignity of the children of God ?

Have we seen their brokenness and lifted them up.   Have we given witness to them, and assured them of the love of God ?

Have I in humility recognized my own failing, in the failings of others ?

In bringing Christ to them, did I help them to see that they are more than the sin that wounds them ?

Have I in charity shown them how it is by my example of love to others ?

Secular Franciscan Way of the Cross – Sixth Station-Veronica Wipes Jesus Face

Image by Lorenzo_Costa

Station Six Veronica wipes Jesus’ face

M: We love you, O Lord

A: Because by your Holy Cross, and resurrection You have redeemed the world.

M: Veronica wipes Jesus’ face

Veronica meets Jesus on the way to the cross, His face full of pain, exhausted, beaten and bloody.  Veronica moved by seeing Jesus labors, in love wipes Jesus face.

A: Help us Lord, to fully live our vocation.

Reflection :

In my vocation, I am called to be present, I am called to bring Christ to others. 

In my vocation, do I see with the eyes of Christ, my brothers and sisters who suffer ?

Have I worked to relieve the suffering of my brothers and sisters ?     Have I worked to give back the dignity given to every child of God. ?

Do I in my vocation, walk with the poor, the needy, the ones the world has thrown away ?

Do I, in my vocation, hug the leper who is infected by the disease of my own heart ?

Secular Franciscan Way of the Cross – Station Five – Simon of Cyrene is Made to Carry the Cross

 Station 5  – Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross

M: We love you, O Lord

A: Because by your Holy Cross, and resurrection You have redeemed the world.

M: Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross

“They led him out to crucify him.  They enlisted a passer-by Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus , who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross”

(Mark 15:21)

A: Help us Lord, to fully live our vocation.

Reflection :

In my own walk , in my vocation, am I Simon ?   Do I help shoulder the cross of my brothers and sisters ?   Do I carry the cross of my own community ?   Am I Simon when I embrace Lady Poverty, in order that I may freely give of my time, talent, and treasures, in order to serve the poor and marginalized. Is it I, who helps bring Jesus to others?  Am I, through my vocation, through my life, who help bring Jesus to the world ?  I came out of the world, just as Simon came out of the country, and pressed by God’s call to live my vocation and shoulder the cross of my own, and my brothers and sisters.  Do I live fully my vocation to do Gods will for me in love for my brothers and sisters I the world ?

Secular Franciscan Way of the Cross – Station 4 – Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother

Image By Fr. Pfettishem, Pethrus

Jesus meets His sorrowful mother.

At this station Jesus meets His mother. Full of pain, full of sorrow, full of love , but full of the knowledge of God’s will for her, and obedient without question, knowing that she will see her son again. Like any mother being his greatest cheerleader and ally on his journey.

Reflection :

Am I like Mary in my vocation ? Do I go to meet my brothers and sisters on their journey ? Am I like Mary, giving all of my strength and all of my effort in my journey ? Am I like Mary in my vocation to reach out to my brothers and sisters ? Do I help them, knowing that the goal of traveling this road, will be difficult, but knowing the reward is far greater ? Do I strive to be obedient to the Rule of Life, and work to help my brothers and sisters to live the Rule as well ?

Secular Franciscan Way of the Cross – Station 3 – Jesus Falls the First Time

Station 3 – Jesus Falls the First Time :

M:  We love you ,O Lord

A: Because by your Holy Cross , and resurrection you have redeemed the world.

M:  Jesus Falls the First Time

“all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God “  ( Romans 3:23)

A: Help us Lord, to fully live our vocation.

Reflection :

As a Franciscan, we have professed to take Lady Poverty as our guide, as our partner, on this journey to help us along the way.

I have fallen.  There is no denying that I have fallen and sinned, against God and against by brothers and sisters.

But do I accept my own failure? Do I recognize my failure, that allows me to feel the weight of that failure when I see it in my brothers and sisters?

Does it allow me to see them, hurting, longing, and yearning in their struggle to make it through to find joy?  Have I, because of my own sin, and because of my own struggle, united myself with them on their journey, understood and had compassion for them, to empathized with them, and accepted them, loved and helped them?   In that fraternal love, have I judged them? 

Knowing that I fail and fall, knowing that I sin and wrestle in my heart, in my soul, against my own life in my profession, in my rule, in my community, I must embrace the poverty of my own spiritual life, and push forward towards the cross, on the road to being the best Franciscan disciple I can be.

Secular Franciscan Way of the Cross – Second Station

Image By Fr. Pfettishem, Pethrus

M: We love you, O Lord

A: Because by your Holy Cross, and resurrection You have redeemed the world.

M: The Second Station -Jesus bears His cross.

“ Pilate said to them “ Look, I am going to being him out to you to let you see that I find no case. “ Jesus then came out wearing a crown of thorns and a purple robe. Pilate said “ Here is the man” – When they saw Him, the chief priests and guards shouted “ Crucify Him ! , Crucify Him ! “ Pilate said, take Him yourselves and crucify Him, I can find no case against Him.”

“Here is your king” Pilate said to the Jews. Take Him away ! Take Him away” they said “ Crucify Him !” “ Do you want me to crucify your king ?” said Pilate. The chief Priests answered “ We have no king except Caesar “ So Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

They then took charge of Jesus, and carrying his own cross he went out of the city to the place of the skull, as it was called in Hebrew Golgotha. “ ²

A: Help us Lord, to fully live our vocation.

Reflection :

In my vocation, do I encourage my brothers and sisters, our leaders, and those who serve us ? How am I both building up my brothers and sisters, in leadership and what example do I give to my brothers and sisters that I walk with ? Am I like Pilate, not wanting to lead or not wanting to take action or responsibility ? Am I like the chief priests and guards, joining in because it is easier ? If I don’t like what is happening , do I wash my hands of it and walk away, not participating, or not helping , robbing my brothers and sisters, of opportunity to hear my voice, or me to hear theirs fully ? Or am I so invested in being “right” about my position, that I do not hear my brother or sisters, heart in what they are telling me ?

My vocation is giving my will, for the love of God, to the service to my brothers and sisters, each and every day. Have I planned my life around my meetings ? Or my meetings around my life ? I can not live my vocation, I can not live the Gospel life alone. I must have my brothers and sisters, my community, and I can not have them, if I am not there for them. I can not serve them if I am not there for them. I can not be testament , I can not be love, I can not be Christ, present for them, if I am not there. Did I choose instead to go on vacation, or go to some other function ? Did I place my meeting second only to the immediate needs of my self, or family ?

When I was given a cross, when I was asked, when I was needed, did I pick up and bear my cross for love of God and my brothers and sisters ?

Secular Franciscan Way of the Cross- First Station- Jesus is condemned to Death

M: We love you, O Lord

A: Because by your Holy Cross, and resurrection You have redeemed the world.

M: Jesus is Condemned to Death –

“First thing in the morning, the chief priests together with the elders and the scribes, in short the whole Sanhedrin, had their plan ready. They had Jesus bound and took Him away and handed Him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned Him, “ Are you the King of the Jews ?” “ It is you who say it.” he answered.

And the chief priests brought many accusations against Him. Pilate questioned Him a again, “Gave you no reply at all ? See how many accusations they are bringing against you ?” but to Pilates’ amazement, Jesus made no further reply.

So Pilate anxious to placate the crowd, released Barabbas for them and , having ordered Jesus to be scourged, handed Him over to be crucified” ¹

A: Help us Lord, to fully live our vocation.

Reflection :

Placing ourselves in the place of Pilate, we are to sit in judgment and at the same time we stand in the place of Jesus, so to judge no one else except ourselves. Why are we on trial here ? We are to judge if we are really Franciscans. We hear the voices of “the Sanhedrin”, that are our brothers and sisters, our own conscience, and our brothers and sisters of different faiths, or of no faith at all, and finally of creation itself. As Pilate, you can ask yourself, “ Are you a Franciscan ?” . Like Jesus, you are silent.

The question then remains, what evidence is there ? What evidence is present in your life, and in your vocation, in your words, and in your actions to testify to truth ?

Here then you must ask yourself, and weigh the answers carefully in your conscience in order to judge rightly. On the day of my profession, I promised to live the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, taking life to Gospel, and Gospel to life. Is there evidence to convict me ? You also promised to live the Gospel life, and to build a more fraternal world. Is there evidence to convict me ? You promised to live a life of service. Service to God, and our brothers and sisters. You promised to proclaim Christ by your life, and build the community. You promised to live in fraternity, to build up your community and to do all that you can in order make that community grow and thrive, as a treasured place of ecclesial love. You promised to live the Rule of the Order, and strive daily to reach the goal of Christian love.

And now you have the evidence before you. Like Jesus, your brothers and sisters ,who , in the place of Barabbas, are not there to take your place. Your Brothers and Sisters in the Order are there to be like the Blessed Mother, to be with you, and support you along the Via Delarosa of life’s journey and to encourage you in doing what is yours to do.

So now you must go forth, bound by your vocation and profession, bound to poverty, bound to chastity, bound to obedience, bound to love. Pushing forward towards the cross, you are stripped of your pride, stripped of worldly attachments, stripped of your own desires, preparing for the road ahead.

You are scourged, whipped, beaten down, unmercifully to the point where your former self is no longer recognized. The world mocks you, pressing in the crown of thorns that pierce through your skin. You are clothed in your love, and you go onward to the end.

Parable of the Sower

Parable of the Sower – (Matthew 13:4–9, Mark 4:3–9, Luke 8:4–8 )

“When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to him, he spoke in a parable.

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up.

Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture.

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.

And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” ^–

^{(https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/8)}

Of course, later in the Gospels, the Lord moves forward in teaching the disciples the meaning of the parable mean that the seed being spread , is the Word of God. Then, we find the places where the seed lands.. The seed that falls on the path, and gets eaten, is seed that taken by satan, and so the hearer is does not believe and is not saved. The seed falling on rocky ground.. is the hearer, who receives the Word of God, but has no roots, they initially believe but they loose faith in the middle of their trials.

Then the seed that falls in the weeds, is similar, where they initially believe but they loose faith while dealing with worldly issues and/or they choose instead to chase after the worldly pleasures and desires.

Finally, the seed that falls on good ground is the one where the receiver gets the Word of God , believes and perseveres in faith through their lives despite the anxieties , trials and temptations of this life. This would be default make God, the sower.

Lets take another look into the parable and see if we can find some part of ourselves there in each version ! To no small extent our faith is in no small way a product of both education and experience.

Hopefully, when we are young, our parents took us to church, and there was some form of religious education that occurred. Here is where it is that we learned the basic truths of this world and the next.

That God created the world, and each thing within the world, and in Heaven. We learned the reason for our being created, and that we were given free will to choose God or not. All of these truths gave us a basis to relate to our world and all the people, animals and things within it.

As we age, the challenges of life become greater still, and it is possible that our formal education in theology and faith stopped, and the things which we knew and accepted to be true when we were younger seem incomplete. The truth has not changed, but our understanding definitely has.

Returning to the parable for a moment, I would invite you to consider the possibility that the “soil” also can also be our friends, our family, the people who we seek this knowledge from. If the people in our lives are hard, unbelieving, unloving, and not themselves in a journey of faith, then the will likely meet that same fate. If their point of reference is the trials and allurements of this world, then they will not bare fruit for you. If you seek knowledge and bare witness to those who seek God, seek the truth, and are on their own journey, then you will bare the fruit of their witness.

I used to believe that, at least in the United States, everyone had certainly heard the Word of God , or at least had some rudimentary religious education in this modern age. As usual, it has been made clear to me as I have worked in ministry that this is not true for everyone. There are a number of people at every age who were not exposed to a religious education. In the light of this parable those seeds could be considered as still falling, or not germinated as of yet.

I find it important to understand that the paths of these seeds are not absolutes, but rather a manner of education through which to strive. If we love God, and try to serve Him as best we can, then to spite our human failings, and the differing types of ground we find ourselves with, we will always strive to work at tilling our soil, to work at removing the rocks, and pulling the weeds, so that eventually there is nearly nothing left but good soil and our fruit will be abundant.

My father used to say, whatever you are… be the best that you can be. The same is true of our faith lives. We should strive to be the best Christians that we can be. Seek the truth, learn as much as we can, and take care of our (spiritual) family.

May God give you the gift if His peace !