Photo (c) 2012 John M. KIngery
Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross (St. Francis shrine: St Cecilia parking lot)
Theme: There is hope for the helpless
Tema: Hay esperanza para los desamparados
Scripture: John 19:33-37
When the soldiers came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead so that they did not break his legs, but one of them opened his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water. 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.For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled: “Not a bone of it will be broken.” And again another passage says: “They will look upon him whom they have pierced.”
Reflection by Matt Cato of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace: When he was elected Pope Francis I said that, “Right away, with regard to the poor, I thought of St. Francis of Assisi, then I thought of war. Francis loved peace and that is how the name came to me.”
He had also thought of St. Francis of Assisi’s concern for the natural environment, he said, and how he was a “poor man, a simple man, as we would like a poor church, for the poor.”
Like St. Francis, Francis emphasized our role to protect all of humanity, but “especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison.”
“Today amid so much darkness we need to see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others,” he said. “To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope, it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds,” he said.
Prayers: We thank you for the abundance of love and forgiveness which flows from you to all of us. WE THANK YOU, LORD
Petitions: Let us pray for those from other countries, that here they find community and be treated with dignity and respect as we welcome the stranger. O GOD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
Let us pray for charity in our hearts so that we may contemplate the face of Christ in everyone we meet. O GOD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
In the coming week we will eat simply and with gratitude, remembering those who do not have enough and being faithful stewards of all creation. O LORD, WE WANT TO WALK IN YOUR WAYS
LET THE ST. CECILIA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY TAKE UP THE CROSS
Song: “Jesus Remember Me” (repeat as needed)