Stations 9 & 10

Station 9 – Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

READ – Luke 23: 27 – 31
27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

PONDER Do these words sound comforting? What was Jesus trying to prepare these women for? Where was he telling them to direct their compassion? How does each face in the image show their different responses to his words?

PRAY You do not solicitate our sympathy, Jesus, you command us to look for your in-breaking kingdom. Make us ready for this upheaval of the status quo.

Station 10 – Jesus is crucified

READ Luke 23: 33 – 34, 47
33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”

PONDER What do you know about Jesus’ heart for us by what he says? What is Jesus focused on when he was dying?

PRAY God of earth and eternity, forgive us, for we mostly do not know what we are doing to sacred places and peoples.