BRIEF MEDITATIONS ON THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS
I
The people choose guilt over innocence
Jesus is condemned to death.
II
The once-living instrument of death is selected
Jesus takes up the cross.
III
The weight of sin descends on man and God
Jesus falls.
IV
Sin tries to enter our Blessed Mother as she is tempted by hatred
Jesus quiets her spirit.
V
The guilty one shoulders the instrument of death with the innocent
Simon helps to carry the cross.
VI
The face of sin is wiped and the pure image of God remains
Veronica touches the face of Jesus.
VII
Unrepented sin is heaped upon sin and evil is excused
Jesus falls again.
VIII
Guilt wallows in blame and recrimination
Jesus admonishes the mourners.
IX
The man is crushed by sin
Jesus falls the last time.
X
The guilty strip the body of man/God and reveal only innocence
The soldiers steal Jesus’s cloak.
XI
Man captures God and tries to hold Him in bondage to his will
Jesus is nailed to the cross.
XII
Man/God is raised up like the serpent for the crowd to behold
Jesus dies on the cross.
XIII
The vestiges of sin are washed from the body
Our Blessed Mother purges the corpse.
XIV
The body is encased in a prison that cannot contain God
Jesus’s corpse is put in a tomb.
