Stations of the Cross

In the new Cathedral of Coventry in the Unity Chapel there were rough wooden posts.  On each of them was a paper maché character.  These represented the stations of the Cross.  They were not your traditional depiction and I found them quite interesting.

Not being familiar enough with the stations to be able to do them without the guide I still appreciated being able to stand in front of each of them and contemplate the meaning and significance of each one of the stations. 

Jesus is condemned by Pilate in the traditional station.  This one is simply titled CONDEMNED.  When have you felt condemned or conversely when have you condemned someone?

Traditionally the second station is Jesus "accepts" his cross or as this station says BURDEN.  Take time to consider the burdens that we carry, why we carry them and how we can lighten our load

In the traditional third station Jesus falls for the first time. This is simply titled FALLEN. What has you stumbling and falling?

 

Traditional Stations mark the  fourth as Jesus meets his afflicted mother.  This is titled ABANDONED.  Have you felt abandoned? Have you abandoned someone or thing? How did it make you feel?

At the fifth station Simon is compelled to help carry the cross.  Here the title is simply SUPPORTED.  Think of a time when you have been supported and conversely when you were the one that supported.

Traditionally the sixth station is Veronica offering her veil to Jesus. Seeing Jesus in distress she offers a cloth for him to wipe his face.  Here we simply have SEEN.  Think of a time when you felt that you were in the presence of the divine and felt seen by God

The traditional seventh station Jesus falls for the second time.  Simply titled FALLEN.  When have you fallen again and reopened wounds or caused fresh wounds and bruises

At the eighth station Jesus speaks to the women.  This one is titled EMPATHISED.  When have you felt Jesus speaking to you.

At the nineth station Jesus falls for the third time.  FALLEN here is quite dramatic and our image is barely holding on.  When have you been so filled with despair and how have you hung on?

The tenth station Jesus is stripped of his garments.  This is titled SHAMED. Here our vulnerabilities are exposed

The traditional eleventh station Jesus is nailed to the cross.  NAILED is the title of this piece.  

The twelfth station, Jesus dies upon the cross.  

KILLED 

At the thirteenth station, Jesus is taken down from the cross.  RELEASED is the title of this next piece.  When have you felt free from obligations, duty, burden?

At the fourteenth station, Jesus is placed in the Sepulcher.  This stop is entitled TRANSFORMING.  How have you been changed and transformed by your experiences?

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Good Friday Collect, Anglican Church of Canada)