Pray the Stations
During the first 14 weeks of 2012, we shall be contemplating the Stations of the Cross as depicted in our Church. If you wish to add a meditation or prayer to this page, please complete the form below. At the end of each week we shall add the submitted prayers and commentary to the page that introduces the Station with the following text. Please note that we may edit your contribution for brevity or consistency with the overall style.
Week 8: Eighth Station. Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem
In the midst of his suffering, Jesus recognises that others will also face trials and suffering in times to come. It is the human condition, to suffer, to undergo pain; sometimes on account of our own actions, for which we must hold ourselves responsible; but sometimes too at the hands of others, or, perhaps most difficult to understand, with no apparent cause or reason.
Luke 23: 27-32 Large numbers of people followed him, and women too, who mourned and lamented for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep rather for yourselves and for your children. For look, the days are surely coming when people will say, "Blessed are those who are barren, the wombs that have never borne children, the breasts that have never suckled!" Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"; to the hills, "Cover us!" For if this is what is done to green wood, what will be done when the wood is dry?'
In this depiction Jesus has regained his footing and strides forward into a still deeper coloured sky. He turns to address the two female figures kneeling in supplication. He extends his arm to them in blessing, and in farewell.