"Do the Stations" - Rector's Rambling for March 4, 2018

As we spend time in Lent looking at the destructive effects of sin in our lives, both how they affect us in the flesh as well as our souls, we do so with a purpose.  That purpose is to place our sins at the foot of the Cross and let the Blood of Jesus wash them away.

“Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins”.  This is the only reason we merit heaven.  Eternal Life has been bought for us by the death of Jesus Christ.  We will be reminded of this in the readings on Palm Sunday and on Good Friday.  But it is an awesome act by a loving, sinless, God-made-flesh, that he should die for us.

One poignant way that we remember this gift is by praying the Stations of the Cross.  Every Friday in Lent at noon, we gather in the church and begin a 25 minute journey covering the last hours of Jesus’ life.  We walk as a group, starting at the foot of the steps to the sanctuary, and circumambulate the interior of the nave (seating area).  We stop at each of the 14 Stations to be reminded of that journey Jesus took from his being sentenced to death by Pilate, carrying his cross to his death on Calvary.  At each station we begin by saying, “We adore thee O Christ, and we bless thee, because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.”  Next we hear a description from scripture of a part of that journey, pray a Collect for that portion, and then move on to the next station while singing verses from the ancient hymn Stabat Mater.

At least once in Lent you should take the opportunity to join us to pray the Stations.  It is a powerful reminder of the selfless, loving act that Jesus Christ did for us.  It is so easy to gloss over the crucifixion with a pretty cross or picture.  But spending time meditating on that journey drives home the big reality of God’s love for us.

We have 11:15 AM Mass before, and  Benediction follows, but the Stations are that unique Lenten Devotion that YOU should take advantage of this year to be reminded just how much Jesus loves you.