Church of St. Mary at Clinton Heights

Today is the final Friday of the Lenten Season, a day which typically sees the faithful praying the stations of the Cross.  The following “Way of the Cross” may be beneficial for each of us:

A Scriptural Way of the Cross

for a Believer’s Personal, Interior Reflection & Growth

The First Station Jesus is condemned to death What we utter is God’s wisdom: a mysterious, a hidden wisdom. God planned it before all ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age knew this mystery; if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Cor. 2:7-8)

The Second Station Jesus takes up the Cross Jesus emptied Himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate and it was thus that He humbled Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a Cross! (Phil. 2:6-8)

The Third Station Jesus falls the first time The word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is more powerful than men. (2 Cor.1:18)

The Fourth Station Jesus meets His Mother Christ loved the Church. He gave Himself up for her to make her holy, to present to Himself a glorious Church, holy and immaculate, without spot or wrinkle, or anything of that sort. (Eph. 5:25-27)

The Fifth Station Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross God chose those whom the world considers absurd to shame the wise; He singled out the weak of this world to shame the strong. He chose the world’s lowborn and despised, those who count for nothing to reduce to nothing those who were something. (1 Cor. 1:27-29)

The Sixth Station Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus The God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts, that we in turn might make known the glory of God shining on the Face of Christ. (2Cor. 4:6)

The Seventh Station Jesus falls the second time Continually we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus, so that in our bodies the life of Jesus may also be revealed. Death is at work in us, but life in you. (2 Cor. 10, 12)

The Eight Station Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem He comforts us in all our afflictions and thus enables us to comfort those who are in trouble, with the same consolation we have received from Him. As we have shared much in the suffering of Christ, so through Christ do we share abundantly in His consolation. (2Cor. 1:3-5)

The Ninth Station Jesus falls the third time Three times I begged the Lord that this might leave me. But He said to me: My grace is sufficient for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection. So I willingly boast of my weaknesses that the power of Christ may rest upon me; for when I am weak, it is then that I am strong. (2 Cor. 12: 8-9, 10b)

The Tenth Station Jesus is stripped of His garments You can depend on this as worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these, I myself am the worst. But, on that very account I was dealt with mercifully so that in me, Jesus Christ might display all His patience. (1Tim.1:15-16)

 The Eleventh Station Jesus is nailed to the Cross Even when you were dead in sin, God gave you new life in company with Christ. He pardoned all our sins and canceled the bond that stood against us with all its claims, snatching it up and nailing it to the cross. (Col. 2:13-14)

 The Twelfth Station Jesus dies on the Cross If God is for us, who can be against us? Is it possible that He who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for the sake of us all will not grant us all things besides? (Rom. 8:31-32)

 The Thirteenth Station Jesus is taken down from the Cross I have been crucified with Christ and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal. 2:19b-20)

 The Fourteenth Station Jesus is laid in the tomb Are you not aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Through baptism into His death, we were buried with Him so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. (Rom.6:3-4)

 

(The following reflection is from Fr. Robert Barron, a most impressive contemporary theologian:)

Reported yesterday,  Bishop Scharfenberger has announced plans to revitalize Bishop Maginn high school, beginning this upcoming academic year, by relocating and renewing administration.  Since news reports and comments may not be fully informed of the decision-making process, and to honor the value of full transparency, we are posting yesterday’s official press release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany here:

Announcement Concerning Bishop Maginn High School

About ten years ago, when I was vocation director for priestly formation in our diocese, I can recall the committee-wide process of writing a kind of handbook for seminarians.  The goal was to inform and encourage young men aspiring to ordained priesthood concerning one’s overall formation in areas of human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral growth and development.  One of the sub-committees was tasked with outlining certain gifts, talents and “virtues” associated with overall development.  In the course of discussions, I had proposed the value of docility, especially in spiritual formation, but also valuable in the overall movement of formation.  Little did I know that this word or stance immediately caused derision among some of my colleagues.  They were very concerned that I was proposing a kind of weakness, a stance of helpless abandon and, ultimately, a dry and lifeless irresponsibility for one to work at the process of formation.  On the contrary, I was proposing quite the opposite.

After heated discussion, I can remember citing certain postures in Sacred Scripture, two to be exact: Saint Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, “…my grace is sufficient for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection. So I willingly boast of my weaknesses that the power of Christ may rest upon me; for when I am weak, it is then that I am strong.”  Here we are, among other things, encouraged to submit our lowliness to the Lord who raises us up in Himself; second, from today’s gospel passage on this Feast of the Annunciation, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”  Both of these citations, I would propose, encourage the hearer to embrace weakness and grace, a holy submission and subsequent strength.  For instance, when one submits oneself to be led by another, he grows in courageous trust…and the one led quickly begins to value the role of leadership and how such leadership should serve the good of those being led.  In another regard, once one submits oneself to the will of the Almighty, one begins to understand and appreciate well the gift of God which surrounds us.

Docility is an honest, real posture which is borne out of our natural weakness when confronted with both the reality of sin and evil, but also it is the appropriate stance we take when we acknowledge and reverence the Lord of All.  It is from this stance, then, that we are, first, able to acknowledge God’s goodness and holiness, and second, we are able to be led by Him to His Glory.

Might each of us be able to grow closer to the Lord who is Good Shepherd?  Might we benefit from submitting our lowly selves to the greatness of God, thus being transformed, by His grace, into a holy people?  Might we be most perfect, only once we have admitted of our need for God, …for His strength, …for His guidance, …for His love and mercy?

May we be able to be docile, and thus open to receive God’s grace this day…grace which is so needed by each and every one of us, as we grow more and more in the likeness of the Lord.

Recall how Yahweh revealed himself to his people as “I AM”.  And when they sinned against God (our first reading of today’s Liturgy of the Word), he revealed his saving mercy and grace in one “mounted on a pole”.  And in our Gospel, Jesus reveals himself again, not once, but twice, as “I AM”.  Yet, those who hear his words, fail to recognize Jesus as God.  It appears so clearly to us, yet those who were with him, just failed–or refused–to see and believe, and so they remained in their sins.

Throughout this waning Lenten Season, I have heard hundreds of confessions, and I’ve celebrated nearly as many sacrifices of Mass.  We have heard time and time again, over and over, how God invites his people into his love, how he forgives the sins of those with repentant hearts, how he freely offers the gift of mercy in order for each of us to return to his love.  From this repetition, from this ongoing instruction, are we really convinced of this?  Do we truly believe that Jesus’ offering in sacrifice really saves and sets us free?  If we do not, we remain in our sins; if we do believe, then our only authentic, meaningful response can be to “follow him”.