On Tuesday night during our Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life meeting, pairs of high school students were assigned a particular station of the cross, with the task of writing a meditation through the lens of self-gift. The first ten Stations were written by high school students, and the remaining four were written by young adult leaders.
You can read Stations I-V here.
Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Think of Veronica’s self-gift to Jesus. By taking care of Jesus, she risks everything. Many of Jesus’ followers did not stay with Him on His way to Calvary, but Veronica had the courage and faith not only to follow Him, but to comfort Him and wipe His face. Like Veronica, we should be able to care for others and follow Jesus no matter what others might say or do. Whether this means doing something as simple as what Veronica did for Jesus, or doing something as powerful as what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross, let us pray that God will give us the strength to be a self-gift to others.
Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …
Seventh Station: Jesus falls a second time.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Dear Jesus,
Even though you are tired and weak, and you couldn’t walk another step, you persevered and saved the world. Even though there was much pain, sadness and mockery; even though you had the power to stop it all, you still carried your cross.
Through our difficulties, troubles and failures, you taught us to pick up our cross and follow you.
Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …
Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children” (Luke 23:29). Christ, it is easy to think of the cross on your back, the thorns on your head, and your children who rejected you, and feel sorrow. Help us to increase in this sorrow. Let your suffering surround our hearts so that we may be united to the crucifixion. Let our tears bring us conversion. Allow your example to inspire our souls to only illuminate your love to the world. Lord, let us die to ourselves, find joy in our suffering, and suffocate the lust of the world with the love of Christ.
Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …
Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
After meeting the women of Jerusalem, Jesus continues on His journey to Calvary. He once again falters under the weight of the wooden beam and falls to the ground for a third time, crushed as the cross lands right on top of Him. It was, however, not the cross itself which weighed Him down, but instead the sins of you and me that made His trek so arduous. His self-gift even during the final, most difficult and humiliating times of His life is the reason for our salvation.
Dear Jesus, help us to realize how much we have hurt you, and give us the strength to overcome any humiliating trials for your sake. We ask this through your name. Amen.
Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …
Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Exhausted. Abandoned. Humiliated. As I finally reach the top of the hill, the soldiers command me to drop my cross. I am almost happy to drop it, because its weight is crushing me. Just when I think I can be humiliated no more, the soldiers rip my garments off of my broken body. As I fall to the ground, I see God’s children laugh at me and gamble on my bloody clothing, as I lay here dying. And yet, I still love them. Even though they try to take everything from me, they cannot take away my will of love for them. My torn, broken body is my gift. Through my body, through my love, through sacrifice, I will save humanity, no matter what the cost.
Father, do not abandon me now. Give me the strength to embrace my suffering and to die at the hands of your children. I know they are made for so much more than this.
Dear Jesus: how many times do I take your sacrifice for granted? You gave everything for us in love – your emotions, your spirit, and finally your body. Help me to be your hands and feet, and to give myself in love to everyone I meet.
Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …
You can read Stations I-V here.
Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Think of Veronica’s self-gift to Jesus. By taking care of Jesus, she risks everything. Many of Jesus’ followers did not stay with Him on His way to Calvary, but Veronica had the courage and faith not only to follow Him, but to comfort Him and wipe His face. Like Veronica, we should be able to care for others and follow Jesus no matter what others might say or do. Whether this means doing something as simple as what Veronica did for Jesus, or doing something as powerful as what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross, let us pray that God will give us the strength to be a self-gift to others.
Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …
Seventh Station: Jesus falls a second time.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Dear Jesus,
Even though you are tired and weak, and you couldn’t walk another step, you persevered and saved the world. Even though there was much pain, sadness and mockery; even though you had the power to stop it all, you still carried your cross.
Through our difficulties, troubles and failures, you taught us to pick up our cross and follow you.
Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …
Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children” (Luke 23:29). Christ, it is easy to think of the cross on your back, the thorns on your head, and your children who rejected you, and feel sorrow. Help us to increase in this sorrow. Let your suffering surround our hearts so that we may be united to the crucifixion. Let our tears bring us conversion. Allow your example to inspire our souls to only illuminate your love to the world. Lord, let us die to ourselves, find joy in our suffering, and suffocate the lust of the world with the love of Christ.
Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …
Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
After meeting the women of Jerusalem, Jesus continues on His journey to Calvary. He once again falters under the weight of the wooden beam and falls to the ground for a third time, crushed as the cross lands right on top of Him. It was, however, not the cross itself which weighed Him down, but instead the sins of you and me that made His trek so arduous. His self-gift even during the final, most difficult and humiliating times of His life is the reason for our salvation.
Dear Jesus, help us to realize how much we have hurt you, and give us the strength to overcome any humiliating trials for your sake. We ask this through your name. Amen.
Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …
Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Exhausted. Abandoned. Humiliated. As I finally reach the top of the hill, the soldiers command me to drop my cross. I am almost happy to drop it, because its weight is crushing me. Just when I think I can be humiliated no more, the soldiers rip my garments off of my broken body. As I fall to the ground, I see God’s children laugh at me and gamble on my bloody clothing, as I lay here dying. And yet, I still love them. Even though they try to take everything from me, they cannot take away my will of love for them. My torn, broken body is my gift. Through my body, through my love, through sacrifice, I will save humanity, no matter what the cost.
Father, do not abandon me now. Give me the strength to embrace my suffering and to die at the hands of your children. I know they are made for so much more than this.
Dear Jesus: how many times do I take your sacrifice for granted? You gave everything for us in love – your emotions, your spirit, and finally your body. Help me to be your hands and feet, and to give myself in love to everyone I meet.
Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …
Kenosis Teens Rock! Keep your hearts open and you will set the world on fire with God's love!
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