Reflection on the Stations of the Cross #3 ~ by Minnie Davis

1st Station: Jesus is condemned to death

Pontius Pilate pleaded with the mob of people. He spoke in favor of Jesus, but then he allowed Jesus to be tortured, beaten and crowned with thorns.

"O Jesus, You were obedient to God's word. I will always have love for You and others."


2nd Station: Jesus carries His cross

Jesus carries the cross on His bleeding and bruised shoulders. He takes the cross upon Himself as He takes upon Himself our sins.

"Jesus, just as You carried the cross; I too, must bear the cross in my daily living."


3rd Station: Jesus falls the first time

By His suffering, Jesus stumbles and falls. He struggles and rises in great pain. He is very weak.


4th Station: Jesus meets His afflicted mother

Jesus' mother was saddened and terrified at all that Jesus had been through. They both were full of grief.

"There is no greater love than Your love, Sweet Jesus. I reach out my hands to Thee!"


5th Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His cross

Jesus said in despair, "My strength is gone. I can no longer bear the cross alone." Simon gave aid to Jesus to help Him carry the cross.

"Lord Jesus, each time we lift a burden from another's back, visit the sick, give clothes to the homeless or help someone along the way through kindness to others, we give to You."


6th Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

Jesus' face is covered with blood and sweat. Veronica wipes His face with her veil and His holy face is imprinted on the cloth.


7th Station: Jesus falls the second time

"Lord Jesus, give us strength when we seem to fail and feel we can't go on. Give us courage."


8th Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

The women of Jerusalem were in great despair when they saw Jesus. He said to them, "Do not weep for Me, but for yourselves and your children."


9th Station: Jesus falls a third time

Jesus, weakened and exhausted, falls a third time. They tried to make Him walk faster when He hardly had strength to move. His body was motionless. He was drained of strength and collapsed.


10th Station: Jesus is stripped of His clothes

The cross was His deathbed! Jesus has reached Calvary, the place of His execution. The executioners stripped Him of his clothes and reopened His wounds.

"Lord, take away the craving for position and possessions and lead us to the humble place."


11th Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross

Jesus' executioners violently stretched His limbs and fastened them with nails to the cross.

"Dear God, what can we give You in return? You gave Your life for us."


12th Station: Jesus dies on the cross

Jesus is crucified. There was darkness over the whole land. After three hours of agony and pain, He commends His spirit to His Father; He bows His head and dies.


13th Station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross

Jesus' lifeless body is taken from the cross by His disciples. They placed Him in the arms of His tearful mother.

"Jesus, You sacrificed Your life for us that we might live."


14th Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb

Jesus is buried. Even though one life ended, another begins.

"May we accept each moment with faith and trust as we live for You."


~ Graphic by Crystal Cloud Graphics