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ICDS Way of the Cross – 2020/13

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Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross

 

 

Immortal love …

“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body.” (John 19:38)

The image of the Pieta comes to mind, the image of Mater Dolorosa, the Mother of Sorrows. Jesus is taken down from the cross and placed in the arms of his mother. An adult human being, lifeless in the same arms that once carried Him and the womb that gave birth to him. A mother weeps for her child who she has brought to life and cared for years, with whom she had shared countless hours of joy. She is a picture of unspeakable grief, indescribable tenderness, and wordless despair.

Mary, the mother, loves with her whole being beyond physical death. So much is expressed in this silent embrace: it is the image of a love for which bodily death is not a barrier and does not mean the end. Continue Reading

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ICDS Way of the Cross – 2020/12

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Station 12: Jesus dies at the cross

 

 

Unifying love in the darkest night …

“And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.“ (Mark 15:34-37)

A last act of earthly love and tenderness: Jesus asks the disciple John to take care of his mother and asks his mother to accept John in his place. Both do not leave his side until the last breath.

Let us try to enter into this scene mentally. Before us lies only sadness, no comfort, no hope. – Everything seems to have come to an end… Continue Reading

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ICDS Way of the Cross – 2020/11

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Station 11: Jesus gets nailed to the cross

 

 

 

nail down …

“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:33-34)

Jesus, who always taught openly and freely, is now nailed down. Like a piece of wood that you take hold of, that you have at your disposal. He is crucified and is suffering the most shameful punishment that existed at that time.

God is nailed down by men, his size reduced. He surrenders himself completely. In his incredible love for us he allows this to happen… Continue Reading

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ICDS Way of the Cross – 2020/10

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Station 10: Jesus is robbed of his clothes

 

 

Exposing …

 

“I can count all my bones. They stare at me and gloat; they divide my garments among them; for my clothing they cast lots.” (Psalm 22:18-19)

Arriving at the place of execution, Jesus gets his clothes torn off. He is exposed, exposed to the eyes of the many, exposed to them with no protection. Jesus is enduring this: He is on the same level as the defiled, the humiliated, the exposed of all kinds. Deprived of all his possessions and dignity, he now stands at the very bottom of human society.

Again and again, it happens that people expose each other – often without even noticing it. Be it through ruthlessness, shamelessness, lack of respect, sometimes stupidity, – or perhaps deliberately, to hurt the other, to belittle, to degrade. Continue Reading

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ICDS Way of the Cross – 2020/8

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Station 8: Jesus meets the crying women

 

 

Empathy and Compassion

„A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children.“ (Luke 23:27-28)

Some women who witness the collapse of Jesus are deeply moved by the suffering of another, even when the other is apparently presented as a “criminal”. They don’t question him, they don’t question guilt or innocence, they just see the broken, tormented, a person badly treated to the extreme. Continue Reading

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ICDS Way of the cross – 2020/9

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Station 9: Jesus falls down under the cross for the third time

 

 

Lying on the Ground …

“To all my foes I am a thing of scorn, and especially to my neighbors, a horror to my friends. When they see me in public, they quickly shy away.“ (Psalm 31:12)

Jesus lies motionless on the ground. Defenseless, exhausted, at the end of his human strength. He lies there like an abandoned, tormented person, exploited and used up. It is difficult to bear this image – and yet we expect it of many of our fellow men. Continue Reading

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ICDS Way of the Cross – 2020/4

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Station 4: Jesus meets his mother

 

 

Getting Touched …

The words that old Simeon spoke to Mary at the temple are beginning to come true: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (comp. Luke 2:34-35)

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is moved by compassion. She does not withdraw in this distress but shows her Son that she stands by him in everything and that she is with him with her love. She does not leave his side, does not avoid the visible pain, accompanies him and remains present. Continue Reading

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ICDS Way of the Cross – 2020/5

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Station 5: Simon helps Jesus to carry the cross

 

 

 

Going Along With …

„They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.“ (Mark 15:21)

The way of Jesus crosses with the way of the surprised farmer Simon. He is perhaps tired from work and on his way home. Now he is to bear the execution beam of a “criminal”. Simon has no idea who this condemned man is and how he finds himself so suddenly and inexperienced in this situation. Faced with the surrounding violence, without question he takes the heavy beam on himself and accompanies Jesus on his last journey. Continue Reading

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ICDS Way of the Cross – 2020/6

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Station 6: Veronica hands Jesus the sudarium

 

 

 

Alleviating Needs and Sufferings …

„Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.“ (Matt 5:7-8)

The crowd enthusiastically follows the spectacular spectacle with mockery, violence, cruelty and curiosity. Veronica, a woman on the way, has the courage to break out of the crowd. She cleanses and refreshes the suffering face of Jesus. Continue Reading

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ICDS Way of the Cross – 2020/7

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Station 7: Jesus falls down under the cross for the second time

 

 

 

Collapsing …

“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.” (Psalm 22,7-8)

The cruel brutality, the injustice, the ever more oppressive burden, the physical and probably also mental pain, make Jesus collapse a second time. How close Jesus is to us in his human fragility and vulnerability! The people around him stand there, looking, shouting, mocking, scolding. Some are affected, others are not, they appear to be curious, helpless, or happy not to be affected themselves. Continue Reading

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