This was a special week for me. On Wednesday night our parish arranged for eight priests to come and hear confessions. Half of these holy men are retired, but out of duty and love of God they sacrificed  their time to hear many of us divulge our indiscretions. While waiting my turn, I prayed and silently wept for all those on my prayer petitions. The priest who heard my confession was an elderly sage whose wisdom brought me to tears. God knows all of my struggles, but this time something was different. My spirit was yielded to the wisdom of this priest. I felt the true presence of God as the venerable pastor absolved me of my sins. I go to confession because it clears my mind, heart and spirit; it frees me to continue to mature in my Christian walk. Nothing is more spiritually rewarding!

The Eighth Station of the Cross: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem 

When Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem, they are moved with compassion. In their sorrow, they attempt to comfort Him. At this point on the Via Dolorosa (The Way of Pain) Jesus has just gotten up from falling the second time. We are now entering into a much narrower and steeper passage for this station. The military and police escorts usually hold us up here to allow the crowd to clear the area, so when we make our turn, we will not be trampled.

As the women of Jerusalem approach Jesus, He gives what will be His last sermon. Jesus receives two different types of punishment because under Roman discipline He will be crucified. Pilate had Jesus scourged to appease the Jews; then he had Him crucified to avoid a riot. The cruel scourging included a whip similar to the cat-o’-nine tails. This device was made of pieces of stone and broken glass embedded in its ends.  As it made contact with the skin, it would shred His skin and open to expose His arteries; this caused immediate swelling. So by the time the women of Jerusalem met Jesus, He was unrecognizable. Jesus had been abandoned by his friends, yet even until the end He shared a message of repentance. (Luke 23:28-31)

The Ninth Station of the Cross: Jesus Falls a Third Time

To make our way up to the Ninth Station we need to walk back to the main cobblestone path and make our way up a flight of stairs. I always remember this station because we pass through a shop where feral cats live on the rooftops. Jesus falls a third time. At this point Jim, the gentleman who is carrying the Cross, is exhausted. As a team we allowed him to catch his breath while Linda, one of the ladies in our group, sang “The Day He Wore My Crown.”

Jesus is crucified at the Eleventh Station of the Cross. We are not allowed into the area of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where the actual Crucifixion took place, so we reenact in an open area not far from the original site for all the world to see. At this time the crowd is thick with tourists from all over the world who have followed us most of the way.

As Jesus (Jim) reaches out to touch them, many of these people are moved to tears. I have witnessed many Israeli soldiers’ countenances change into sadness when experiencing the Via Dolorosa. Our Lord was hung on the Cross between two criminals. Even then that the last minute he saves one of the criminals. Lord, Your mercy is so great!

Luke 23:39-43   New American Bible (Revised Edition)

³⁹Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” ⁴⁰ The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” ⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

 

The Twelfth Station of the Cross: Jesus Dies on the Cross

When Jesus and the two criminals were hung on the Cross, it was urgent that they die quickly so their bodies could be taken down from the crosses before the Sabbath, which began at sunset. For the Jews the spectacle of crucifixion would have been seen as desecration of the holy day. At the Jews’ request, Pilate commanded the soldiers to break their legs.

John 19:31-36   New American Bible (Revised Edition)

The Blood and Water. ³¹ Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, ³⁴ but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. ³⁵ An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may [come to] believe. ³⁶ For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled:  “Not a bone of it will be broken.”

 

The Thirteenth Station of the Cross: The Body of Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

Our Blessed Mother Mary is at the foot of the Cross. She has been with her precious son every step of His life. Mother Mary was the one that initiated the first miracle at the Wedding in Cana. She is the perfect example of how we should love our children.

The supernatural events that took place after Jesus’ death:

Luke 23:44-46  New American Bible (Revised Edition)

⁴⁴ It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon ⁴⁵ because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. ⁴⁶ Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.

 

The Fourteenth Station of the Cross: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man who was secretly a disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate for Jesus’ body for burial. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jews that had jurisdiction over religious, civil  and criminal matters.

And this my friends is why we celebrate Easter. He Rose Again!

My Prayer

Dear Lord, through all the Stations of the Cross You come alive to us. We see all the suffering You were made to go through. In this world so many are suffering with their crosses. Lord, help us all to carry our crosses with grace. Help those who are battling cancer or other life threatening-illnesses. Help those who are lost and wandering in the desert of life. Lord, Your precious people in Ukraine cry out to You daily; please intervene on their behalf and stop this war! Amen.

Every Friday during Lent  most Catholic parishes celebrate the tradition of Lenten devotion by prayer and reflection through the Stations of the Cross. Though I have known about this service, this last Friday was my first time experiencing this liturgy at St. Norbert. My sister Norma and I were both spiritually moved by the beautiful service. As each station was announced, I’d close my eyes and imagine what our Lord endured. The Via Dolorosa, also known as The Way of the Cross, is the most famous of all the holy sites in the Holy Land.

For years our ministry had dedicated and sacrificed to travel to the Holy Land to reenact the Carrying of the Cross down the Via Dolorosa. It was never easy to get our finances to make this annual trip. It took a lot of prayer and, after traveling over 20 years to the Holy Land, people did not understand why we had to go every year. I could never explain my calling other than it was part of my Christian obligation to participate in this historic pageant. After so many years of service, our director decided to step down and hand me the role of Mary, the Blessed Mother. So I know by heart and sight all the Stations of the Cross.

Accepting Our Crosses

At the First Station of the Cross Jesus is condemned to death. At the Second Station of the Cross He accepts the Cross. Life could not exist without trials because it is the manner in which we handle our crosses that we grow. I’ve had my share of crosses, but just when I’m ready to give up, the Lord comes to help me carry it. My burdens are lighter because of prayer, but that does not necessarily mean that I will be free of my crosses. In my Christian walk I’ve come to the realization that the closer I get to the Lord, the bigger the crosses. God has a plan for all of our lives. Once we master carrying the small crosses of life, He trusts us with the bigger crosses, the ones that make us stumble because of  their weight and size. It is never easy or comfortable to carry a cross because it’s a training in your Christian growth. Most of us don’t realize that we are in training because we are burdened with our crosses.  Some of the most difficult crosses to bear are conflicts with family members and co-workers. This can manifest in many ways with sibling rivalry, a difficult  in-law, and problems in  marriages.

The Third Station: Jesus Falls The First Time

At the Third Station just before Jesus meets His Mother on the Fourth Station of the Cross, He falls. We all fall when carrying our crosses. At this point, you have a decision to make: are you going to get up, or allow the cross to hold you down? If you decide on the latter, you will get stuck in blaming others for your cross. God gives us a free will to choose, and if you choose to stay down, your cross will eventually become part of your daily routine, something that you’ve made a crutch. You will use the cross as an excuse not to get up and finish the Via Dolorosa.

We all  struggle with people in our lives who cause strife. And unless you understand how to accept and love that difficult person, you are keeping them and yourself in a spiritual prison. We think of hurtful things that were said; we play them over and over in our heads. Or if you get a mean-spirited text message, you read it over and over again. We need to stop this behavior because it can keep us from receiving blessings. If someone in your life does not like you, move on and leave it to the Lord. If you get caught up in the drama, this little cross will hinder your spiritual growth. Pray for them and ask God to help you through this.

The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother

The Fourth Station of the Cross is where Jesus meets His Mother. As I prepared for this small role, my friend Jim took the role of  Jesus. In the real life scenario Jesus has just gotten up from His first fall. His face is bloody and his body is covered with welts from all the beating. As Mary, I would gently touch his chin and turn it toward me and ask, “Why are they doing this to You?” I looked toward the crowd of onlookers and said, “Look what they have done to my Son! He is innocent, please help Him!” My dialogue was always improvised, but my tears were real. I could never fill the Blessed Mother’s sandals, but I believe that she would not have remained silent in the agony of seeing her Son in such pain. Jesus’ Mother Mary was there to support her Son, all mothers must follow her example by loving their children, even those who are difficult and hard to love.

The Fifth Station:  Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

At the  Fifth Station of the Cross Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His Cross. We are surrounded by Simons of Cyrene; they are our friends and family members who feel our burdens and come alongside us in prayer. They will spiritually help us carry our crosses in life because they love us and want us to be free. That does not mean that the cross no longer belongs to you; it simply means that, at times when it is the hardest, God will send down the Simons to help us endure the pain of the cross. We are never abandoned on this lonely path; the Lord is there every step of the way.

The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

After Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross, the Via Dolorosa transitions to a much narrower steep path. Many of the shops have boarded their doors to make way for the crowd. The Cross becomes heavier, Jesus’ face is covered with His blood and His vision is impaired. At the Sixth Station of the Cross, Veronica wipes His beautiful face. This is what we are to do to help our loved ones who are in so much pain that they cannot think or see clearly. The original Veronica’s Veil is believed to be stored in the Church of the Holy Face in Manoppello, Italy, where it is displayed daily.

Joel 2:28   New American Standard Bible

The Dream

This past Sunday morning I was awakened by this incredible dream. I quickly looked at my phone to check the time, it was 3:26 a.m. I knew I had to journal the dream, but I needed a pen and my purse was upstairs. This dream was too long for me to remember all the important details. I did not want to disturb anyone, so I got up and journaled the dream on the notes in my iPhone.

In this dream I was in a large airplane. I remember that my mother was one of the passengers; my friend Jane and a few others were on the plane as well. Sitting directly behind the pilot was a young child whose mother was Asian. The strange thing about this was I knew that there was a close relationship between them.  It seemed to me that the pilot was the father of the child. The plane was pretty empty, and as we were flying we hit a horrific rainstorm; it was unbelievably scary. The plane was equipped with a sunroof, which intensified the severity of the storm. As I looked up to the sunroof of the plane, all I could see was sheets of water pelting the plane. Suddenly the pilot was descending to a lower altitude to avoid the storm. I was concerned with how low he was flying the plane, when I noticed that it was about to taxi on to a country road. I still did not understand what was going on. As I watched the plane it was now taxiing on to a city street. The pilot opened the doors and told us to get out so that we could use the restroom in a department store. As I was exiting the plane, I asked the pilot, “What city are we in?” He answered, “Canton, Ohio.” This department store was really old and took up an entire city block. I got off the plane to make my way to the restroom, when I heard Jane call my name. She was on the floor above me in line for the restroom. I told her to wait for me because I did not want to get lost.  I picked up a loaf of bread and went to purchase it, but I needed to borrow money from Jane. I accidentally dropped the bread on the old wooden floor of the store. The bread became soiled, so I gave it to a box-boy. I got distracted and found a needle and thread to sew a tear in my pants. The pants are orange-reddish but I used navy blue thread. The line to the restroom is so long. I continued to sew the pants when I discovered that I’m doing it wrong. I started all over again, and by this time I’m lost and ended up in the laundry section of the store where people were washing their white garments. In a panic I ran back to the restroom and found that the line was much shorter. When I finished, I quickly washed my hands and headed out to the plane. When I reached the door, the plane was nowhere to be found. I was so scared and asked a stranger, “Do you know where the plane is?” He pointed and said, “It’s on 28th Street.” I ran as fast as I could to find the plane, and as I got to my seat I needed my mother to move so that I could get on the plane. The dream ended.

The Interpretation: 

Believe it or not, this was a warning dream for me.

Pilot – God

Child and Mother – Jesus and Mary

Plane – Missionary work

Sunroof – To allow the sun in, to shed light; to allow the Gospel or Evangelization

Rainstorm – Trials

Canton – A city in Ohio named after a city in China, which is now the port city of Guangzhou

Restroom – Cleansing

Tear in my orange-reddish pants – Holes in clothes that are worn out, new covering coming

Navy Blue Thread on orange-reddish pants  – Simple repair when done right , but I was not using the right color thread

Jane – Holy woman of God

My Mother –  An intercessor

Bread- The Word of God

Laundry room – Cleaning holy white garments

28th Street – 2+8= 10; Ten represents order, restoration, The 10 commandments

I did not share this dream with anyone in my family because I did not understand it at the time. I  praise God that I did take the time to journal the dream, because I feel that God is warning me. God is my pilot in all that I do, and He is allowing me to clean up my prayer life, ministry, etc. I am going to go through trials, but I will see them coming (sunroof), and I will know how to pray beforehand. Canton is a Chinese word, and God is calling me to pray for the Chinese Christians who are being persecuted (the mother of the child was Asian). The bread represents the Word of God. Recently I was ministering to several Protestants, but came across as arrogant by stating that the part of the Catholic Bible that I was sharing was omitted by Martin Luther. Even though I was kidding, these were hurtful words. God wanted to correct my behavior so that I would always be a loving witness to His Word. In the dream I carelessly dropped the bread and it became soiled. Though I was teaching, I was not a loving witness.

My Prayer

Lord, I thank You for allowing us to spend time with Mikos, Jenny, Maddie and Wil. They are growing up so fast, and this time spent together is precious for Mike and me.

We continue to lift up Ukraine and all the devastation that they are experiencing. I cannot imagine my family being forcibly torn apart like they are. I pray that this will be a short war, and that Your mighty hand will intervene on behalf of all Ukrainians.