Joint Project Commissariat of the Holy Land in Canada and Antennes de paix à Montréal
1st station
Station 2: Jesus carries his cross
1st voice
“Jesus was led away, and carrying the cross by himself, went out to what is called the Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha).” (John 19, 16b-17)
Jesus willingly and publicly takes up the instrument of his own execution. He embraces it freely and without rancour. In such an extreme context of pain, his attitude of forgiveness is an act of love and it is also the power to create peace. Jesus journeys out of himself to find his centre in someone who totally transcends his human weakness, and so takes up the risk of living in Mystery and ultimate meaning.
2nd voice
There are many labourers in fields and factories around the world—some of them children—who perform back-breaking tasks in order to get enough to eat and to support their families. They are the migrant workers who harvest our vegetables; they are the children who break rocks into gravel with hammers; they are the women in textile factories who sew our clothing. Sometimes they are intimidated, beaten, raped, and even killed.
3rd voice
Let us pray:
Jesus our brother, in following you we walk the path of the cross toward new life. The cross designed to crush your life becomes the symbol of your love and fidelity. Help us to respond joyfully to the challenge each day offers to live as your disciples. Strengthen us when we stumble and help us to persevere. Let the world see in our lives an invitation to a deeper experience of peace. Amen.