THE PASSION OF THE LORD – THE WAY OF THE CROSS
COLOSSEUM
ROME, 18 APRIL 2025
Introduction
The road to Calvary passes through the streets we tread each day. Usually, Lord, we are walking in the other direction, and so it may just happen that we encounter you, catch sight of your face, meet your gaze. We are going about our way as usual, and you are coming towards us. Your eyes look into our hearts. Then we find it hard to continue on, as if nothing happened. We can turn around, contemplate you and follow you. We can walk in your footsteps and come to realize that it was good for us to change direction.
From the Gospel according to Mark (10:21)
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
Your name is Jesus, and truly in you “God saves.” The God of Abraham who calls, the God of Isaac who provides, the God of Jacob who blesses, the God of Israel who liberates: in your gaze, Lord, as you pass through Jerusalem, an entire revelation is contained. The steps you take as you leave the city can foreshadow our own exodus to a new land. You came to change the world: for us, that means changing direction, seeing the goodness of your path, letting the memory of your glance transform our hearts.
The Stations of the Cross is the prayer of people on the move. It disrupts our usual routine and enables us to pass from weariness and apathy towards true joy. Yes, following the path of Jesus has a price: in this world that puts a price on everything, gratuitousness proves costly. In that gift, however, everything blossoms anew: a city split into factions and torn by conflict can move towards reconciliation; an arid piety can rediscover the freshness of God’s promises; and a heart of stone can turn into a heart of flesh. We need only hear his invitation: “Come! Follow me!” And trust in that gaze of love.
First Station
Jesus is condemned to death
From the Gospel according to Luke (23:13-16)
Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”
It did not work out that way. Pilate did not set you free. Yet, it might have gone differently. Such is the dramatic interplay of our individual freedoms. That was what you so greatly respected in us, Lord. You trusted Herod, Pilate, your friends and your enemies alike. You never take back the trust with which you place yourself in our hands. We can learn marvellous lessons from this: how to free those unjustly accused, how to acknowledge the complexity of situations, how to protest lethal judgements. Even Herod could have followed the holy restlessness that attracted him to you: yet he chose not to, even when he was finally in your presence. Pilate could have freed you: he had already acquitted you. He chose not to. The way of the cross, Jesus, is a possibility that we have already too many times failed to consider. Let us admit it: we have been prisoners of the roles we choose to continue playing, fearful of the challenge of a change in the direction of our lives. Yet you are always there, silently standing before us, in every one of our sisters and brothers exposed to judgement and bigotry. Religious disputes, legal quibbles, the so-called common sense that keeps us from getting involved in the fate of others: a thousand reasons drag us to the side of Herod, the priests, Pilate and the crowd. Yet, it could be otherwise. You, Jesus, do not wash your hands of all this. You continue to love, in silence. You have made your choice, and now it is our turn.
Let us pray, saying: Open my heart, Jesus!
| When I see someone I have already judged, | Open my heart, Jesus! | |
| When my certainties are simply prejudices, | Open my heart, Jesus! | |
| When I am harsh and unbending, | Open my heart, Jesus! | |
| When goodness quietly attracts me, | Open my heart, Jesus! | |
| When I want to be strong, but fear my frailty, | Open my heart, Jesus! |
Second Station
Jesus carries his cross
From the Gospel according to Luke (9:43-45)
While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
For months, perhaps years, you bore that burden, Jesus. When you spoke of it, no one listened to you: there was invincible resistance even to thinking about it. You did not ask for the cross, yet you felt it, ever more clearly, moving towards you. If you accepted it, it was because you felt not only its burden, but also its responsibility. The way of your cross, Jesus, is not only uphill. It is also your descent towards those whom you loved, towards this world that God loves. It is a response, an acceptance of responsibility. The cross has its price, as do all the deepest bonds, the greatest loves.
The Burden We Bear: A Reflection on the Journey to the Cross
The burden we bear speaks of the Spirit that moves us, the Holy Spirit “who is Lord, the giver of life.” Why, really, are we afraid even to question you about this? In truth, we are the ones who gasp, out of breath, as a result of our attempts to flee responsibility. All we need do is to stop running away and to remain in the company of those you have given us, in the situations where you have placed us. To bind ourselves to them, recognizing that only in this way can we stop being prisoners of ourselves. Selfishness burdens us more than the cross. Indifference burdens us more than sharing. The prophet had foretold it: Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint (Is 40:30-31).
Let us pray, saying: Deliver us from weariness, Lord
| If we feel burdened by life, | Deliver us from weariness, Lord! | |
| If we lack the will to help others, | Deliver us from weariness, Lord! | |
| If we seek excuses to shirk our duties, | Deliver us from weariness, Lord! | |
| If we have talents and skills to share, | Deliver us from weariness, Lord! | |
| If our hearts rebel against injustice, | Deliver us from weariness, Lord! |
Third Station
Jesus falls the first time
From the Gospel according to Luke (10:13-15)
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But at the judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades.”
It was like hitting rock bottom, and you spoke harsh words, Jesus, about those places that were so dear to you. The seed of your word seemed to have fallen into the abyss, as did all your acts of deliverance. Every prophet felt himself plunging into the abyss of failure, only then to get up and keep walking in the ways of God. Your life, Jesus, is a parable: on the soil of our lives, you never fall in vain. Even at that first fall, your disappointment was soon interrupted by the joy of remembering the disciples whom you had sent out: they returned from their mission and told you of the signs of the Kingdom of God. Then you rejoiced with a spontaneous, overflowing joy that made you leap to your feet with contagious energy. You blessed the Father, who conceals his plans from the wise and the learned in order to reveal them to the little ones. Even the way of the cross is traced close to the earth. The mighty withdraw from it; they desire to grasp at heaven. Yet heaven is here below; it hangs low, and we can encounter it even when we fall flat on the ground. Today’s builders of Babel tell us that there is no room for losers, and that those who fall along the way are losers. Theirs is the construction site of Hell. God’s economy, on the other hand, does not kill, discard or crush. It is lowly, faithful to the earth. Your way, Jesus, is the way of the Beatitudes. It does not crush, but cultivates, repairs and protects.
Let us pray, saying: May your kingdom come!
| For those who think they have failed, | May your kingdom come! | |
| To challenge an economy that kills, | May your kingdom come! | |
| To restore strength to those who have fallen, | May your kingdom come! | |
| In a world of competition and competitors, | May your kingdom come! | |
| For those left behind, lacking hope for the future, | May your kingdom come! |
Fourth Station
Jesus meets his Mother
From the Gospel according to Luke (8:19-21)
Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
Your Mother is there, on the way to the cross: she was your first disciple. With quiet determination, with the wisdom born of pondering all these things in her heart, your Mother is present. From the moment she was asked to welcome you in her womb, she turned to you. She bent her ways to yours. This was not a sacrifice but a continuous discovery, all the way to Calvary. To follow you is to let you go; to possess you is to make room for your newness. As every mother knows, children constantly surprise us. Beloved Son, you realize that your mother and your brothers and sisters are all those who hear your words and let themselves be changed, those who do not speak, but act. In God, words are deeds, promises are realities. On the way to the cross, O Mother, you are among the few who remember this. Now it is your Son who needs you: he knows that you do not despair. He senses that you continue to give birth to the Word in your heart. We too, Jesus, can follow you because we were begotten by your followers. We too can live in the world due to the faith of your Mother and of the countless witnesses who generate life even in those places where everything speaks of death. That time, in Galilee, it was they who wanted to see you. Now, as you ascend to Calvary, you seek the gaze of those who listen and act. An ineffable understanding.
Welcome to a journey of reflection and prayer, where we delve into the Stations of the Cross with a unique perspective.
As we begin, let us utter the words: “Behold my Mother!”
| Mary listens, then speaks: | Behold my Mother! | |
| Mary asks and reflects: | Behold my Mother! | |
| Mary sets out with determination: | Behold my Mother! | |
| Mary rejoices and consoles: | Behold my Mother! | |
| Mary welcomes and cares: | Behold my Mother! | |
| Mary risks and protects: | Behold my Mother! | |
| Mary has no fear of judgments and insinuations: | Behold my Mother! | |
| Mary stays and waits: | Behold my Mother! | |
| Mary guides and accompanies: | Behold my Mother! | |
| Mary concedes nothing to death: | Behold my Mother! |
Let us now move on to the Fifth Station, where we witness Jesus being helped by Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross.
From the Gospel according to Luke (23:26), we learn how Simon was unexpectedly called upon to bear the burden of the cross. Despite not volunteering, he embraced this task and became an integral part of Jesus’ journey to Calvary. Like Simon, may we be open to altering our course and working alongside Jesus.
Pray with me, saying: “Alter our course, Lord!”
| When we go our own way, eyes averted: | Alter our course, Lord! | |
| When news reports do not disturb us: | Alter our course, Lord! | |
| When faces become statistics: | Alter our course, Lord! | |
| When we never find time to listen: | Alter our course, Lord! | |
| When we make decisions in haste: | Alter our course, Lord! | |
| When we refuse to break out of our routine: | Alter our course, Lord! |
Now, let us proceed to the Sixth Station, where Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
From the Gospel according to Luke (9:29-31) and Psalm 27, we are reminded of the transformative power of gazing upon the face of Jesus. By seeing His determination and love, we are called to reflect His radiance in our interactions with others.
Join me in prayer, saying: “Jesus, impress your memory upon us!”
| If our faces are expressionless: | Jesus, impress your memory upon us! | |
| If our hearts are indifferent: | Jesus, impress your memory upon us! | |
| If our actions are divisive: | Jesus, impress your memory upon us! | |
| If our choices cause hurt: | Jesus, impress your memory upon us! | |
| If our plans exclude others: | Jesus, impress your memory upon us! |
Lastly, we arrive at the Seventh Station, where Jesus falls for the second time.
From the Gospel according to Luke (15: 2-6), we witness the Pharisees and scribes questioning Jesus’ actions. Yet, His parable about the lost sheep teaches us about the relentless love and pursuit of those who are lost. May we, too, show compassion and seek out those who are in need.
Together, let us pray: “Jesus, impress your memory upon us!”
Welcome to our blog, where we delve into the teachings and wisdom of Jesus in a unique and engaging way. Today, we reflect on three powerful Stations of the Cross that remind us of the love, forgiveness, and resilience that Jesus embodies.
In the Eighth Station, Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. In the midst of the crowd, Jesus sees the women and feels their closeness. He reminds them not to weep for him, but for themselves and their children. Women, with their nurturing hearts, have a special connection to God’s heart. Their tears can bring forth new life and change. Let us pray for a maternal heart, inspired by the holy women in Church history, who embraced and consoled those in need.
Moving on to the Ninth Station, Jesus falls for the third time. Just like a child learning to walk, Jesus experienced falls in his life. He understands our constant struggle with sin and forgives us with great love. We are reminded that those who are forgiven much, love much. Let us reflect on the power of forgiveness and love in our lives, inspired by the woman who bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears.
These Stations of the Cross invite us to embrace our humanity, learn from our mistakes, and experience the joy of new beginnings. Let us follow Jesus’ example of resilience, forgiveness, and love as we journey through life’s challenges. In a world driven by calculation and logic, let us choose the path of grace and responsibility, guided by the divine economy of love and joy.
Join us in prayer as we seek strength and inspiration from the teachings of Jesus. Let us rise up, embrace our unique treasures, and walk the path of love and forgiveness together. Amen. Welcome to a journey of reflection and transformation, where we delve into the depths of our hearts and souls. The story of Jesus’ journey to the cross invites us to shed our masks and embrace our true selves before the loving gaze of God.
In the tenth station, Jesus is stripped of his garments, a powerful image of vulnerability and intimacy. Like a skilled potter shaping clay, God molds us into who we are meant to be. Let us pray for the unity and peace of the Church, that we may weave anew the fabric of our fraternity, grounded in the gift of Christ.
Moving on to the eleventh station, we witness Jesus being nailed to the cross, a symbol of ultimate sacrifice and freedom. Even in his darkest hour, Jesus chooses forgiveness and reconciliation, breaking down walls and establishing unity. Let us take inspiration from his example and strive to be agents of peace and reconciliation in our own lives.
As we continue on this journey, may we be reminded that we are clay in God’s hands, constantly being shaped and transformed. Let us embrace our true selves and walk boldly on the path of love and generosity. May the scandal of the cross awaken us to the power of forgiveness and the beauty of unity in diversity. Let us be like Jesus, stripping away our masks and embracing our true identity as beloved children of God.
Transforming Through Love: A Reflection on Jesus’ Sacrifice
Convert us to you, Jesus; though nailed fast to the cross, you are able to do all things.
Let us pray, saying: Teach us to love
| When we are strong and when we are not: | Teach us to love. | |
| When we are bound by unjust laws or decisions: | Teach us to love. | |
| When we are at odds with those uninterested in truth and justice: | Teach us to love. | |
| When we are tempted to despair: | Teach us to love. | |
| When everyone says, “There is nothing to be done:” | Teach us to love. |
Twelfth Station
Jesus dies on the cross
From the Gospel according to Luke (23:45-49)
The sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Where do we stand on Calvary? Beneath the cross? Somewhere nearby? At a safe distance? Or perhaps, like the apostles, no longer even there. You breathe your last, and this breath, both last and first, asks only to be received. Lord Jesus, direct our paths towards this, your gift. Do not allow your breath of life to be dispersed. Our darkness seeks light. Our temples want to remain ever open. Now the Holy One is no longer beyond the veil: his mystery is revealed to all. It is perceived by a soldier, who, watching you die, recognizes a new kind of power. The crowd that had cried out against you understands it: formerly distant, they now encounter the spectacle of an unprecedented love, a beauty that revives faith. To those who watch you die, Lord, you give an opportunity to repent, to return to you, and to beat our breast in order to shatter our hardness of heart. Jesus, grant that we, who all too often regard you from a distance, may always be mindful of you, so that when at last you come, death itself may find us alive.
Let us pray, saying: Holy Spirit, come!
| We have kept our distance from the Lord’s wounds: | Holy Spirit, come! | |
| We have turned away from our brothers and sisters in need: | Holy Spirit, come! | |
| We have regarded the merciful and the poor in spirit as losers: | Holy Spirit, come! | |
| Believers and non-believers stand before your cross: | Holy Spirit, come! | |
| The whole world yearns for a new beginning: | Holy Spirit, come! |
Thirteenth Station
Jesus is taken down from the cross
From the Gospel according to Luke (23:50-53)
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid.
Your body is now, at last, in the hands of a good and righteous man. You are shrouded in the sleep of death, Jesus, but a vibrant, generous heart has now chosen to stand by you. Joseph was not one of those who talk but then fail to act. “He had not agreed to their plan and action,” the Gospel tells us. And this is good news: someone who chose not to care for the opinion of others now cares for you, Jesus. You are cared for by someone who is concerned to do what he considers right. You are now in the hands of Joseph of Arimathea, one who “was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.” You are now in the hands of someone who continues to hope, one of those who refuse to think that injustice always prevails. You break the bonds of the inevitable, Jesus. You challenge the mindsets that devastate the earth, our common home, and human solidarity. You grant to those who “wait expectantly” for your kingdom the courage to speak to power: like Moses before Pharaoh, like Joseph of Arimathea before Pilate. You embolden us to take on great tasks. In this way, even in death, you continue to reign. For us, Jesus, to serve you is itself to reign.
Let us pray, saying: To serve you is to reign
| When we feed the hungry: | To serve you is to reign. | |
| When we give drink to the thirsty: | To serve you is to reign. | |
| When we clothe the naked: | To serve you is to reign. | |
| When we welcome the stranger: | To serve you is to reign. | |
| When we visit the sick: | To serve you is to reign. | |
| When we visit prisoners: | To serve you is to reign. | |
| When we bury the dead: | To serve you is to reign. |
Fourteenth Station
Jesus is laid in the tomb
From the Gospel according to Luke (23:53-56)
[Joseph of Arimathea] wrapped [the body of Jesus] in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath, they rested according to the commandment.
In a world of hectic activity, Jesus, you now experience your Sabbath. The women experience it too; their spices and ointments seem already to prefigure the resurrection. Teach us how to do nothing at those times when it is asked of us only to wait.
Embracing the Divine Seasons: A Journey to Sabbath Rest
As we navigate the ever-changing seasons of the earth, let us learn to embrace the rhythms that are beyond our control. In the quiet tomb, Lord Jesus, you entered into our human experience, descending into the depths that often terrify us. We can see how we frantically try to escape these depths by staying perpetually busy, only to find ourselves going in circles. But then, the light of the Sabbath breaks through, teaching us the necessity of rest. It beckons us to live a godly life, one that is truly human in scale, where we can find the peace of the Sabbath.
The prophet Micah foretold a time when all will sit under their vines and fig trees, free from fear. Zechariah speaks of a day when we will invite each other to share in the abundance of our harvest. Lord Jesus, who appears to slumber amidst the chaos of this world, lead us into the restful peace of the Sabbath. In that stillness, we will behold the beauty and goodness of creation, destined for resurrection. It is in that peace that your people and all nations will find harmony.
Let us offer our prayers for peace:
– For the earth, air, and water: May your peace come!
– For the just and the unjust alike: May your peace come!
– For the overlooked and voiceless: May your peace come!
– For the powerless and the poor: May your peace come!
– For those awaiting a springtime of justice: May your peace come!
As we reflect on these words, let us heed the call to embrace a way of life that honors our common home, as Saint Francis of Assisi did. Let us live with the Gospel as our guide, seeking unity and fraternity with all, as expressed in the Encyclical Letters “Laudato Si'” and “Fratelli Tutti.”
In this moment of stillness, as the King of Kings rests and a profound silence envelops the earth, let us pray for a deep conversion of heart, echoing the words of Saint Francis:
Most High and glorious God,
Illuminate the darkness within my heart.
Grant me unwavering faith,
steadfast hope,
unconditional love,
and profound humility.
Endow me with wisdom and insight,
so I may fulfill your divine will.
Amen.
May we find solace in the Sabbath rest, where we can commune with the Creator and find renewal for our souls.
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