Jesus FAIL

As I celebrated Holy Week, I found myself pondering the same things that I seem to do each year. There is almost a dark “real time” anticipation of the events that transpired over 2000 years ago. I meditate and imagine what the week must have been like. I imagine the lingering excitement from Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the great hope that gripped the hearts of the crowd. I imagine the celebration as the crowds gathered for the Passover. But I also imagine the thoughts that must have been going through the minds of the disciples in the upper room and on Golgotha. Messiah had finally come. The Roman yoke of oppression was just about to be cast off and Jesus was going to lead the way. "Hosanna!"  But then things begin to radically change and unravel with the washing of some dirty feet and the eating of a meal.

Hearts began to sink. Anxiety levels escalated. Tears fell. It appeared to be the end of the line as Jesus unfolded the details of what was to come. As he predicted, He was arrested and beaten. He was rejected by the same people who celebrated His entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And finally, on Good Friday, He was nailed to a cross, breathed His last breath and uttered, "It is finished." He died.  Finished? He was taken down from the cross and buried. From all practical perspectives, it was over. And as Jesus' disciples gathered together on that Sabbath before the Resurrection, the pain, fear and grief must have been overwhelming.

Was it really finished? Good Friday and Holy Saturday did not carry with them the anticipation, preparation and joy that it does for us today. For those who followed Jesus, it appeared that there was nothing to look forward to, except the same possible fate that met their friend. The end of the line, boys. "Jesus is dead!  And we're next!  You're going to get your wish, Peter!  Believe what you want, Thomas!  But your doubting ass will be hanging on a cross by sundown!"          

"Where did things go wrong?”, they must have thought. “How did we misinterpret what Jesus had been telling us over the last three years”?, they must have asked themselves. “Were we totally misled?” “Are we all fools? Morons?” “Was our mission with Jesus a complete failure?” FAIL! Their feet were clean, but their minds were cloudy as they waited. The anxiety must have felt like the weight of the world. Fear. Rejection. Anger. Confusion. All of these emotions must have been running wild as they mourned the death of their Rabbi. Their leader. Their friend. From the view of the world, this must have appeared to be the perfect failure.

Time doesn’t permit me to go on and on with the thoughts that flood my mind this morning, but I encourage you to ponder these things as well for one very simple reason. There appear to be two sides to this story. One side tells us that this was in fact, a perfect failure. This side leaves Jesus in His tomb and leaves the disciples defeated, broken, dejected, afraid and probably eventually dead. The other side of the story is victorious. Renewal. Transformation. Resurrection power. The power that took these eleven broken men that cowered in fear, and used them to transform the world. He is risen! This was not a perfect failure, but complete victory!

There are two stories to every story, isn't there? And as we observe Good Friday, each of us stand on the cusp of the breakthrough that changed humanity. From the perspective of Good Friday, and Good Friday alone, we live in a constant duality of existence. Good Friday leaves us in Chaos, fear and defeat. Good Friday blows a cold wind of disunity, rejection and separation. Good Friday leaves us isolated, cowering in fear, feeling disconnected from God and humanity. Good Friday leave us in fear of death. There is a division that exists with Good Friday, and it creeps in to pollute our communities, even with the realization of the Resurrection .      

As we walk through Good Friday, let us reflect on what Sunday will mean to us. Let us remind ourselves that the darkness of Good Friday will eventually be joined and obscured by the light of Easter Sunday. Easter brings order, peace and victory. Easter Sunday brings unity, acceptance and connection. Easter Sunday finds us in community with out fellow man, celebrating in courage as God's cleansing Spirit flows through creation and mankind. There is a oneness that exists for us on Easter Sunday as we see that Christ's victorious redemption applies to us all, without division.

But the questions remains for us all: Are we living our lives in shadow of Good Friday, or the briliant light of Easter Sunday? Do we cower in the upper room, defeated, disconnected and absorbed with grief? Isolated? Alone? He is risen, and if he is truly risen, then why do we not rise with Him? And if we truly rise with Him, do we not all rise together in complete unification?

As we celebrate Good Friday, let us remember that this shadow will pass over. Let us look forward to the unity and completion of Sunday. Death brings life. Let our vision be encompassed with the vision of Resurrection, not death. Let us join together as the Body of Christ, embracing each other as we suffer. Let us carry each others burden through Friday and journey together in unity.  All things are new, my friends!  All things are new!

Something Strange is Happening

From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday....

"Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”"

Lenten Reflections: Tears

"Jesus wept." - John 11:35

Lent and Advent are spiritual journeys of faith for the follower of Christ. They stand as bookends to the year and give us balance. Yearly milestones to guide us as we walk through this world. One cannot exist without the other.

But as Advent is a carefully manicured path of joy and anticipation, Lent is a rocky trail laden with thorns.

Lent is a journey of tears as we make our way to Resurrection.   

"Jesus wept."  We weep.

Culture teaches us that tears are to be avoided. We harden ourselves. We avoid tears, because tears equate weakness. Culture teaches that weakness is to be avoided.

"I am a rock. I am an island."

"Jesus wept."

Only two words. The shortest of scripture, but deeper than the ocean of tears cried ever since.

Tears are cleansing. Tears are healing. Tears are release. Tears are strengthening. Tears prepare.

For as with Advent and Lent, laughing and weeping are emotions that cannot exist without the other.

They stand as emotional structure to guide us as we walk through this world.

Lord, as you wept, we weep as well. Remind us that in our sorrow, you join us and weep even now. Let our tears cleanse us as we make our way through Lent. Let us embrace them, knowing that they prepare us and empty us, so that laughter can return once again. Prepare us today for resurrection. Amen      

Lenten Reflections: Forth Sunday of Lent

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

Lent is a long journey. Four weeks are now in the rear view mirror. Four weeks under our feet. The soles of our shoes are wearing thin. The dust is building up on our hands and our faces are red from the sun. 

From Ash Wednesday to this point, most of us have faced many of the difficult aspects of who we really are. That's what Lent is all about.

Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.

Humiliated. Anger. Violence. Darkness. Pain. Guilt. All by simply looking in the mirror. 

Confronting our demons. Pride. Selfishness. Arrogance. Lies. Deception. Death.

Are you tired? Exhausted? Weak? You should be. 

But keep going. 

We're together.

Unity.

United as one Body: The Body of the One we journey to meet in a few weeks, naked as we are. Resurrected and unashamed.

We unite with Christ on Easter, but we've still got quite a ways to go.     

Lent can be such an exhausting journey. We face things that stir up deep emotions within. Whether emotional, physical or spiritual, we all feel the miles that we've covered. 

Weary and burdened.

But today we rest....

Breath

Stretch

Sleep

Eat

Drink

Laugh

Celebrate

Embrace

Commune  

Today we rest.

Lord, today we rest and celebrate you. We put aside our burdens, rest our weary bones and reflect on your goodness; your grace, mercy and your love for us. Enable us to rest. Help us to turn off the distractions and refresh our minds, bodies and spirits.  Today we rest in you. Amen   

Lenten Reflections: Dredging

"....many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” - Matthew 26:60-61


"We've got to find some dirt on this guy!"  

"What kind of skeletons does he have hiding in his closet?"

Imagine how deep those witnesses had to dig in order to dredge up dirt on Jesus. How many people did they talk to? How many stories did they listen to in order to twist the words to fit their narrow minded agenda? And in the end, they didn't do a very good job when you think about it. A simple quote spoken years before, taken completely out of context and made to be "truth". The spiritual made literal.

"Do you think they'll believe it?"

"Are you kidding me? Those followers of his will believe anything we tell them. They're stupid, moronic and uneducated slobs! Filthy sheep!"

But.... "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."

"Who said that?"

Maybe later, Jesus. But for now, your stupid sheep are going to reject you, spit in your face, stab you in the back and twist the knife as many times as possible.  

Truth flies out of the window when you're looking to falsely accuse someone. The only thing that matters is convincing everyone else that your story is "true". Truth becomes relative. We believe what we hear, not what we know. Groupthink. Crucify! Crucify!

What is truth?

We love to dredge up the past in order to wound others, don't we? It's one of our best defenses. Hurt others before we get hurt. DEFENSE!

Forgive and forget?

Stab and twist. 

What's in your closet? 

"You know, that pervert has a porn addiction, right?"

"She used to smoke pot with me back in the day! She's in church? Freaking hypocrite!"

"Married with two kids? And he's sleeping with another guy? Faggot sodomite!" 

"He's divorced, but they're letting him pastor this church? Let's get him out of here!"

"Was she drinking a beer? She is so busted!"

"I'm not saying anything, but I saw his financial statement and......" 
  
"That slut sleeps with anyone!  Now everyone is going to know!....Hmmm, wonder what my chances are?"

"He's different. He's looks different and dresses weird. He's a freak. Tried to kill himself. See the scars on his wrists?" 

And then we pride ourselves on cleansing the Kingdom of God of such filth.

"I'm only doing God's will. If it destroys her family, so be it! If he's fired, too bad! Screw him! He had it coming! Scum bag!" 

Are we any different? Jesus would have a tough time in 2016 America. He'd be screwed, and we'd make sure he got what's coming to him. We would just use a semi-automatic instead of the knife in his back. Lethal injection rather than a cross.  

Lord, we realize that we are no better than those that falsely accused You. We falsely accuse others all the time. And by our hypocrisy, we accuse ourselves and make ourselves liars. Help us Lord, to not bear false witness to you or anyone else in our lives. Teach us to forgive and truly forget. Amen  

Holy Week Reflections: Sanhedrin

“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

John 18:30

Trumped up charges. Deception. Misinformation. Half truths. Embellishments. Lies. Lies. Lies.

A reflection of modern day culture.

Lies. 

"We cripple ourselves with lies." - Jim Morrison 

Lies are cowardly and weak because we use them as a weapon which the other person cannot see. It's covert destruction. Incognito weapons of mass deception.

The origin of lies? Selfishness. The culprit? Culture.  

We live in a culture that teaches us from the very earliest years to look of for number one. We grow up with a self-centered mentality that learns to defend itself at any cost. The means of self-preservation become irrelevant. And lies become one of the means that causes the most pain. Not only do lies destroy the victim, they eventually destroy us as well. We can only get so much blood on our hands before someone notices.

Then you become branded:  LIAR

You become a member of the Sanhedrin.

"Crucify him!" because.... "A lie cannot live" - Martin Luther King Jr.  Lies lead to death.

"What is truth?" - Pontius Pilate

 "I am the....truth."

Jesus came into this world as the quintessential example of truth. When the world is presented with absolute truth, nothing can distort the truth but lies, because truth is truth. By lies, distortions, half truths and deception, Christ was presented as a criminal to be accused so that those in power would not be.  Lies led to death.

"Let's get him, before he gets us!"  

Lies cannot exist during Lent, because Lent is about self-evaluation. If we lie, we only lie to ourselves. Lent is a mirror, more clear than any reflection we can behold. Lent is about presenting the truth, not of others, but ourselves. If we lie, we don't falsely accuse someone else, we falsely accuse ourselves.

Lies lead to death. But through Him, we have life. 

Lord, You who were falsely accused, guide us in perfect truth as we make our way through this season of Lent. Help us to choose truth, not lies. Help us to choose life, not death. Help us to reflect complete truth to ourselves so that we can come before you completely blameless. And in doing so, help us to reveal truth to a culture built on a foundation of lies. Amen    

Lenten Reflections: Holy Week

"The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" 

Matthew 21:9

Saturday night, the lights of the city were in view. 

JERUSALEM: Next Exit

We stretch our legs and cast off the dust that we had been carrying for 40 days.

Our long journey will soon come to an end.

It's been a "long and winding road", hasn't it?

Palm Sunday. The embodiment of Lent and all that we've been through and experienced. Utmost joy and deepest pain rolled into one. Celebration and mourning. Two birds killed with one stone.

The overwhelming welcome for Jesus and His followers would soon give way to a roller coaster ride of events and emotions that would leave Jesus rejected, beaten and killed, and the disciples scattered, confused, dejected and terrified. They had no idea what was to come.

A joyous "Hosanna!" would soon morph into a bitter and cynical "Crucify!"

The one they called "Messiah" and begged, "Save us!", would soon become someone that they saw no salvation in whatsoever.

We are no different. Standing at the gates of Jerusalem, cheering with self-righteous cries of group-think, we change what and where we find our salvation.

Yesterday morning we shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." 

This week we'll join the crowds: "Crucify Him!"     

Lent will soon come to an end. We will cast off the dust that we've carried since Ash Wednesday. Our mourning will turn to joy. Celebration. Culmination. Long awaited redemption.

But reality stares us in the face with those who rejoiced over 2000 years ago. Rejoicing is short lived and transparent.

We join the crowds. We condemn. We spit. We beat and torture. We crucify.

Let's not kid ourselves. We still have a few difficult days ahead of us. Have we learned enough from Lent to carry us to Golgotha? I can see it in the distance. Can you? Does Christ look better to us on his thrown, or on the cross?  

Lord, as we join with the crowds in declaring, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.", help us to not turn our backs. Help us not join the crowds. Help us to stand on our own if we have to. We know how easy it is to follow others, even when it means betraying You. Keep us close. Let us suffer with You as we celebrate as well. Because it is in our suffering that we find our perfect joy. Amen 

Lenten Reflections: Truth?

"What is truth?" Pilate asked" - John 18:38

A lie brings satisfaction. Somewhere deep within the recesses of our soul, a carefully crafted lie will appease the deepest desire that screams to be filled. Lies inflate our ego. Lies fill us with pride. Lies transform us into something that we're not. A Lie is existence lived in reverse. Backward reality.  

Lies create a false reality in exchange for the living breathing life that surrounds us. Lies reject the positive in exchange for the negative. Lies feed us, but we remain starving.

Satisfaction, but still longing. 

Filled, but empty. 

Selfless, but selfish.

Finished, but just beginning. 

Creation, but left with destruction. 

Life, but death.
 
We stagger around, in constant states of confusion, choosing whatever lie that will bring temporary satisfaction. Rather than embracing the truth of God that will bring lasting peace, we choose lies and accept the turmoil that eventually develops. This is the root of all rebellion. 

Like a drug, lies perpetuate a temporary existence in exchange for permanence. Chaos in exchange for peace. Life in exchange for death.

During Lent, we confront the lies that consume our lives and come face to face with the realization that we very often choose fantasy over reality. Lent produces for us a mirror that reveals to us someone we hardly know. 

Lent reveals to us that it was not only the Sanhedrin that condemned Christ unjustly, but you and I did as well. It was not only Pilate that rejected truth in exchange for lies, but we do the same thing on a regular basis. Lent is coming to grips with the unsettling reality that we sent Christ to His cross, and to this day, we crucify those around us, we're just more subtle about it.

Lord, as we continue to make our way through Lent, we realize that we often choose the lies over your truth; maybe more often than we know. We also realize that within the Kingdom of God, there are no lies. Help us this day to reveal the Kingdom, and in essence, reveal your truth to the false cultures around us. Amen.       

   

Lenten Reflections: First Sunday of Lent

"Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long."

Psalm 25:4-5

Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.

The path that we find ourselves on is filthy. Let's step off for just a while. 

As we look back over the first week of Lent, we see that the ashes are still settling. They settle on you and they settle on me. They settle on everything around us. The ashes mock us as we stand naked; humiliated at the broken and dirty nature of our existence without Christ. They remind us of death, and that it stands ready to eagerly greet each one of us for services rendered. But pride is quick to build a false facade that shields us from the realities of the mess that we are. And pride fuels the fire that makes a fist and declares, "I'm better than you!" Rather than picking up a broom, we fight over the mess that the ashes have made.

Break time.

But don't be so quick to pull out the cleaning supplies! We're just beginning our journey and there's plenty of  filth to come! You think we're dirty now? We're going to need plenty of soap when this journey's over!

Today is Sunday. Today is the first Sunday of Lent. Today we stop and rest. Today we leave the cleaning until tomorrow. Put your broom down for now. Today we feast!

This is a filthy journey, but let's not forget that Christ leads the way, and in Him there's no room for the ashes of Wednesday. No place for filth. 

Through Christ, through His Spirit, He reveals to us a path that is waiting of each of us. It's not a path of dirt, rocks and dying earth. It's a path of life, perfection and peace.

We're are on this path together.

We're on our way to Resurrection, and by the time we get there, we'll have no need to carry these ashes with us any longer. Today is a prelude of what's to come. This Sunday is temporary. Easter Sunday is eternal.

May you find your peace today. Tomorrow we will continue our journey, and trust me; it's going to get worse.

Lord, today we rest. Today we find our joy in you. Let Your love cover us this day. Let the joy of heaven rain down upon us and give us peace. You are our compassion. You are our peace. You are our joy. Comfort us in the mess that we're in and give us strength, endurance and perseverance for the journey that's ahead of us. Amen.   

Maundy Thursday and Communion

It's no surprise that many churches today fail to acknowledge the deep spiritual significance of Communion, Eucharist or the Lord's Supper. Rather than the observance being the center of worship, it is typically tacked on to the end of a normal service. We quickly go through the motions with a somewhat fast food mentality, complete with plastic cups and prepackaged wafers. Doesn't exactly resemble a meal, or memorial for that matter. Whether observed every Sunday, once and month or every quarter, most Christian Churches incorporate Communion as part of their community of faith.  

Today is Holy Thursday, also called Maundy Thursday. If you didn't grow up in one of the liturgical churches, you've probably never heard of this celebration. It has several traditionally rich aspects, but the most significant is the commemoration of the the Last Supper that Jesus Christ celebrated with His disciples, the night before He was crucified on Good Friday. While Palm Sunday and Easter focus on the more joyful aspects of the Lenten Season, Holy Thursday, as well as Good Friday and Ash Wednesday, commemorate the more solemn and reflective acts of Christ and traditions of this season. Although these celebrations are more somber, they remain just as powerful and meaningful to the Christian faith.

The name “Maundy Thursday” comes from a Latin word "mandatum" which means “commandment.”  If you're familiar with John's Gospel, you'll recognize that the essential commandment in Jesus’ message is found in the story of the Last Supper, when He humbles Himself and washes the feet of his apostles just before the traditional Passover meal. Afterward, He commands his friends to “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). In some churches and traditions, the observance of this commandment, the act of feet-washing, is often performed by pastoral ministers as part of Holy Thursday service.

The Last Supper story, which developed to become the Eucharist, Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper, is described in all three of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke), and expounded on in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Christians commemorate the Last Supper by sharing communion to commemorate the sacrificial death that Christ would eventually make on Good Friday. While different denominations may maintain different specific interpretations of this tradition, many incorporate a special communion into the Maundy Thursday liturgy.

It's believed that the Last Supper was a Passover meal and that has had a strong influence on the way that many Christians mark Maundy Thursday, and observe communion in general. It is not uncommon for smaller groups or entire congregations to celebrate the occasion with a traditional Passover Seder instead of or in addition to church services and communion. The Maundy Thursday Seder has been used by many as an occasion to remember and celebrate the origins of Christianity in Judaism and the strong ties that the two religions maintain.

As with me and my family, you may be observing Holy Thursday this evening. If not, let me encourage you to just spend some time reflecting on these events that took place over 2000 years ago. Remember the importance of the Last Supper, reminding us of Christ's body that was broken and His blood that was shed.  Meditate on the humility that He urges us to emulate as He washed the dirty feet of His disciples. And remember the command that we often conveniently forget, "Love one another."

Lenten Reflections: Fifth Sunday of Lent

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7

Peace be with you! 

"Imagine all the people living life in peace." - John Lennon


Peace is not something that is easily obtained in the world today. In many ways, peace is a priceless commodity because without it, nothing in our lives has any value. When we experience peace, nothing can shake us. When peace is not to be found, we wonder if it even exists.

Peace be with me?

We usually choose a fickle peace; a peace built on circumstances. We offer it on Sunday morning, and sell to to the highest bidder on Monday. We usually choose self-peace.    

God's peace is all encompassing. Self-peace is isolated. 

God's peace surrounds us like being submerged in the ocean. Self-peace comes from wading in to the knees. 

St. Patrick knew the all encompassing peace of God, for he reveals it to us when he prayed....
 
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,

Amen

Stations of the Cross: Station 15 - The Resurrection

“But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
  “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!

He is not here. See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Mark 16:1-8 

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006

Stations of the Cross: Station 14 - Jesus is Buried

 “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus… With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.  He was accompanied by Nicodemus… Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it…the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

                                                
   John 19:38, 41, & 42 

Cold

Barren of life 

Buried in a

garden tomb.

Like a seed fallen to

the ground.

Waiting to rise.

Rise again.

Lord, help us rise again

after dying with You.

Like You, Jesus

I will rise again. 

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006

Stations of the Cross: Station Thirteen - Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

“But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead…one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.”

John 19:33 & 34  

Taken from the cross.

You died trusting in

Your Father’s care,

faithful unto death.

Why cannot we trust?

Why is it so hard?

By your death, Lord

Give us an unfailing

trust in You,

knowing that Your

death was not the end. 

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006

Stations of the Cross: Station Twelve - Jesus Dies

 

“Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’  A jar of wine vinegar was there and they gave him wine.  Jesus said, ‘It is finished!’  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

John 19:28 & 30

 

It is finished.

Death’s finality.

Certain.

God’s servant,

 crushed in sorrow.

Pierced for our offenses.

Shall we not stand

 watching, Lord

mourning the sins

You bear,

rejoicing in the pardon

You bestow?

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006

Stations of the Cross: Station 11 - Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

“carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).  Here they crucified him, and with two others.”

John 19:17 & 18

Nailed to the cross

Hands and feet  

You paid for sin

 Past Present Future

Limitless love

For me

The world

 The ultimate sacrifice was paid.

My sins? My faults?

My life?

Is it only You hanging on the cross,

or me as well?  

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006

Stations of the Cross: Station Nine - Jesus Falls the Third Time

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint…My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.”

Psalm 22:14 & 15

Like water poured out completely.

As a dry dessert.

Your strength gone.

You fall again, as if to the dust

 of death.

By your third fall, Lord

give us courage before

our trials, sufferings  and pain.

Give us patience to go on.

Help us in our need.

Lift us above our weakness.

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006 

Stations of the Cross: Station Ten - Jesus is Stripped

 

“They stripped him…and knelt in front of him and mocked him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said.  They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.”

Matthew 27:28 & 30

They divided Your garments

and cast lots for Your clothes.

Stripped of all dignity.

Humiliation

Shame

You had nothing of Your own.

By Your despoilment, Lord

clothe us in Your grace and mercy

which is rich beyond words and

all earthly possessions.

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006 

Stations of the Cross: Station Eight - Jesus Meets the Women

 

“A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.”

Luke 23:27

Women wept as You passed

You comforted them:

“Weep not

 for me but for Your

 children.”

May the grace of

this meeting

be kept alive in our hearts, Lord.

Let us weep for humanity.

Those that suffer.

Those that are alone.

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006

Stations of the Cross: Station 7 - Jesus Falls the Second Time

 

“But I am a worm and not a man; scorned by men and despised by the people.  All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:”

Psalm 22:6 & 7

 Can God fall? 

A  mighty God

whose hands uphold

all that is?

By Your second fall, Lord

remember how weak we are.

Remember our

helplessness.

Remember our human frailty,

and come to our

Assistance when we fall as well.

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006