As we begin the Lenten season, one practice that is typically offered by churches on Fridays is the Stations of the Cross. This year, I’d like to reflect on each of these stations, two at a time. 

The first station: Jesus is condemned to death.

Each of the four Gospels are clear, Jesus’ death was sanctioned by Pilate. All four also indicate that Pilate questioned the need for a death penalty, trying to have Jesus released by comparing Him to another prisoner, Barabbas. Can you imagine what an intoxicating sound it must have been for Barabbas to hear his name being shouted by all the people? How many in the crowd had recently sung the praises of Jesus? How many had been healed or knew someone who was, and now they are calling for the release of a murderer rather than a healer?

In the end, “So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified.” (Mk 15:15, emphasis added) The Pharisees, the crowd, the soldiers, and Pilate all played a part in the condemnation of Jesus at that historic moment. Over 2,000 years later, we’d like to say we wouldn’t have participated or that we would have stood up for Jesus, but even His Apostles, the tight-knit circle of disciples, had mostly run away. While John was at the foot of the cross, where was he in this judgement? Was he one of the lone voices speaking out against this injustice? Or were his cries useless against the roar of the crowd? 

The phrase used in this passage in Mark can serve as a beacon for us. While God does not want us to be miserable, He also doesn’t want us to seek out satisfaction on our own. Rather than searching to find something or someone who can satisfy us, we need to learn how to be satisfied with what we receive. When we allow the blessings and graces God gives us to fill us up, there is less room for the devil to tempt us into seeking things and persons who turn us away from God.

The second station: Jesus takes up His cross

Condemned to death meant one thing: crucifixion. This begins Jesus’ last journey, but it is the one that He was born to make. He has been brutally beaten by the soldiers, mocked with a crown of thorns, and weakened from the loss of blood. Yet, He picks up the cross, bearing the weight of it on His shoulder. The burden of the cross equates to the weight of our sins. When we seek to reconcile ourselves to God, we seek His mercy in the sacrament, but do we realize that Jesus has already carried the weight of our offensive words, actions, or inactions when He picked up that cross? We may receive a penance of a few prayers or passages in scripture to read, but we need to remember that Jesus has already paid the price for us, and there is nothing we can say or do to compensate Him.

We all have problems, pains, and struggles. We often referred to them as our crosses to bear. How many times do we ask God to remove them from our lives? Do we allow these crosses to be opportunities to learn how to trust God more, to become closer to Him? We may start out with the best intention to carry our crosses ourselves, but we are far weaker than we realize. Jesus understands all too well the weight of what we carry. While we must be willing to bear the burden in our cross, we also must make sure that we are not adding additional burdens and anxieties to it. 

We cannot go back in time to help Jesus during this most difficult journey. However, when we pray the Stations of the Cross, we remember not just the sacrifice of Jesus, but the details that made up the sacrifice. And when we receive the sacrament of reconciliation, we can be more grateful for all that Jesus did for us.