XII. Jesus dies on the Cross
Luke 23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!"
Here in this Station we see breath leaving the body of Christ as he breathes his last. We see his flesh grow pale and lifeless as he actually dies. It may seem strange to say that he “actually dies”, but his actual death upon the Cross is important to Christians as some try to explain the resurrection by saying that he only appeared to die on the Cross. But the Scriptures are all quite clear that he actually died.
A darkness that could almost be felt was over all the land for three hours indicating that something of supreme importance is taking place. Cloud covered the mountain when Moses spoke with God and cloud covered Mount Tabor when Jesus was transfigured. But this is real darkness, not simply cloud cover and this serves to place a new emphasis on the rupture in the curtain of the Temple. The curtain was placed before the Holy of holies and only the High Priest could enter this sacred windowless, dark place once a year. It was here that God’s People met with God and where they came to know him. That curtain is now torn and light shines in to the Holy of holies for the focus has shifted to the life of Christ, for it is in that life that God is now known.
And that life has been completely poured out for all mankind as he breathes his last. The final act of Christ on the Cross is a real last breathing out in which he completely pours himself out for mankind. He empties himself on our behalf. At his incarnation he had “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” now he empties himself completely so that his life is completely spent on achieving our salvation.
At this Station may we come to learn the danger of pride and learn to let go our selfishness. May we come to learn how to serve one another and the world with Christ, sharing in his mission of redemption.
XIII. The Body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross
Luke 24:50 Now there was a man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathe'a. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their purpose and deed, and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid; 56 then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Here in this Station we see good and holy people expressing their love and respect for the Body of the one who was their whole life. Corpus Christi – the Body of Christ – is taken down from the Cross and is placed in his mother’s arms. But look at the care shown in these few verses of Scripture. Joseph of Arimathea has to “ask” for the Body of Jesus. In so doing he risked his life for, from what we know of Pilate’s temperament, he was not a man known for his even temperament. Joseph took the body down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid it in a new tomb. We see that the Body of Jesus was treated with respect, love and devotion. Indeed, the women spent the next day preparing spices in preparation for completing the burial rites.
Contrast this behaviour with how people’s bodies are treated today even when they are alive never mind dead. A society which does not afford the living respect can hardly be expected to show respect to the dead. A society which defines life simply by beauty, productivity, celebrity or notoriety lives only for the present, and has little concept of the real value of human life.
If the Body of Jesus, our Lord and God was treated with such respect when dead, rather than being simply disposed of then why do we mistreat our own bodies and laud the so called, and sometimes extreme, “cosmetic surgery” that so many disfigure themselves with in our present age? We live in a society where scant respect is shown for the dead and so human life when alive is cheapened and degraded. Human life is devalued, considered expendable and measured in terms of productivity, usefulness and acquiescence to current thinking.
At this Station may we learn to respect our own bodies, to value the lives of others simply for who they are not for what they are, or how beautiful they are, or for how much money they create or their usefulness in term of productivity.
At this Station we also pray for those who tend the bodies of their loved ones, especially those who tend the bodies of their children. The piercing sword that is particular to Mary is similarly experienced by those to hold the bodies of their children in their arms. We also pray for those who are denied Christian Funeral Rites; for those whose families deny then Requiem Masses or their stated funeral wishes.
XIV. The Body of Jesus is placed in the Sepulchre
Luke 24:53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid; 56 then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Here in this station we think we see the final earthly part of this journey as the Body of Jesus is taken into the tomb, laid within it and the stone is rolled over the entrance leaving it to lie in peace. Then begins the journey of the women and the apostles into hiding for fear of the authorities.
Fear dominates the next 36 hours, with hiding away in the Upper Room, and of visiting the tomb very early in the morning – in other words when it is still dark, so that the authorities would not be able to see them enough to identify them later.
Fear cripples us as Christians. Fear prevents us from speaking out, from seeking to be a positive influence on our society and yet we can learn from this Station that even when all seems without life and is buried away; then life has a way of bursting through. For at this station the Lord is not simply resting he is still continuing his journey. In the Creed we say “he descended into hell” and by this we mean that Christ goes into hell and demands the souls of the damned and brings them out of the dungeon into his marvellous light.
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead and Christ will give you life”
May the Lord, at this station lift us out of the torpor that prevents us from serving him faithfully; and may be learn at this station that in Christ, even though all may seem a failure and lost - it is never so. For even in the midst of death Christ is awaking the sleeper Adam from death and bringing him to salvation.
When all seems lost and futile all who look to the tomb of Christ live in hope – hope of forgiveness, hope of reconciliation, hope of future peace and blessings, and hope of eternal life – for in this tomb the Son of God conquered death by defeating death with itself.
At this Station we pray for the faithful departed, for those whom we love but see no longer; and we pray for each other, that we may be more effectively found in the Lord’s vineyard serving him where-ever he may be – even if it be in places we would rather he not take us, for when we commit ourselves to his service we find true peace of heart.
This Station may seem like the end of the journey but in reality it is only the beginning of a new and more wonderful journey in which Our Lord comes to us in an even more intimate way through the Holy Spirit and the Sacraments of the Church. He does this to call us to share in this new journey in which he calls others to join him and which continues his missio redemptoris.
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