The Way of the Cross with Pope Benedict XVI
R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
From
the Gospel according to Matthew 27:54-55
When
the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the
earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said,
"Truly this was the Son of God!" There were also many women there,
looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.
MEDITATION
Jesus
is dead. From his heart, pierced by the lance of the Roman soldier, flow blood
and water: a mysterious image of the stream of the sacraments, Baptism and the
Eucharist, by which the Church is constantly reborn from the opened heart of
the Lord. Jesus' legs are not broken, like those of the two men crucified with
him. He is thus revealed as the true Paschal lamb, not one of whose bones must
be broken (…). And now, at the end of his sufferings, it is clear that, for all
the dismay which filled men's hearts, for all the power of hatred and
cowardice, he was never alone. There are faithful ones who remain with him.
Under the Cross stands Mary, his Mother, the sister of his Mother, Mary, Mary
Magdalen and the disciple whom he loved. A wealthy man, Joseph of Arimathea,
appears on the scene: a rich man is able to pass through the eye of a needle,
for God has given him the grace. He buries Jesus in his own empty tomb, in a
garden. At Jesus' burial, the cemetery becomes a garden, the garden from which
Adam was cast out when he abandoned the fullness of life, his Creator. The
garden tomb symbolizes that the dominion of death is about to end. A member of
the Sanhedrin also comes along, Nicodemus, to whom Jesus had proclaimed the
mystery of rebirth by water and the Spirit. Even in the Sanhedrin, which
decreed his death, there is a believer, someone who knows and recognizes Jesus
after his death. In this hour of immense grief, of darkness and despair, the
light of hope is mysteriously present. The hidden God continues to be the God
of life, ever near. Even in the night of death, the Lord continues to be our
Lord and Savior. The Church of Jesus Christ, his new family, begins to take
shape.
PRAYER
Lord,
you descended into the darkness of death. But your body is placed in good hands
and wrapped in a white shroud (Matthew 27:59). Faith has not completely died;
the sun has not completely set. How often does it appear that you are asleep?
How easy it is for us to step back and say to ourselves: "God is dead."
In the hour of darkness, help us to know that you are still there. Do not
abandon us when we are tempted to lose heart. Help us not to leave you alone.
Give us the fidelity to withstand moments of confusion and a love ready to
embrace you in your utter helplessness, like your Mother, who once more holds
you to her breast. Help us, the poor and rich, simple and learned, to look
beyond all our fears and prejudices, and to offer you our abilities, our hearts
and our time, and thus to prepare a garden for the Resurrection.
All:
OUR FATHER, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will
be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and
forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Let me mingle
tears with thee,
mourning Him who
mourned for me,
all the days
that I may live
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