I’m the crossbearer for the Stations of the Cross. As we walk down the side aisle to the first station, Fr. Alex begins the prayer: “We adore You O Christ and we love You” and the congregation responds: “Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.” Little did I realize the meaning of what we were doing? This is an ancient Catholic tradition dating to medieval times. The images along the side of the church are stations or stationary standing places depicting the passion. The pilgrim of yesterday and today is to stand before the depiction of Jesus’ way to the cross for two reasons. One is to meditate on the scene, but the other, far more important, is to enter into it. That is, to be a participate, to take on the role of some character. So let me illustrate that by asking you in your heart to journey with me along these stations. Here you are, standing at:
The Fourth station: Mary's heart was broken not only because she saw her son publicly disgraced and humiliated, going to his death as a common criminal, but most of all, that she could not help him. How gladly she would change places with him, but she was restrained by the soldiers.
Mary is “every parent” unable to save their children. Every parent who watches by the hospital bed after a car accident, every parent who has buried a child after a tragic DWI, every parent who stands helplessly watching their college son or daughter fail in school due to a lack of responsibility, too many parties, too much drugs and alcohol, every parent who knows how careless we were at their age, ignoring our “well-meaning lectures,” every parent whose unending prayers pleads with God to forgive their child whose has left the faith, every parent who listens through the tears of their son or daughter whose marriage is falling apart, every parent who hears the verdict that leads to jail time.
Mary is every parent with arms achingly outstretched because they so badly want to save their child and can’t, at least not right now. They silently offer prayers and their tears and we know in their heart that a last-minute thief is snatched to paradise because one mother or father, perhaps now long since dead, earned mercy for them.
God prays for us as we reflect: “Guard my ‘child’s’ life and rescue them; let them not be put to shame, for we take refuge in you.” (Psalm 25:20).
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Parents who would gladly change places with their child when faced with danger and shame. Sweet Mary, give us courage to carry the sorrows of our children and the strength to stand at their side always with arms outstretched to offer Your mercy and love. We adore You O Christ and we love You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeem the world.
