In a recent interview with Walter Brueggemann, he called Lent a liminal moment. “We want to celebrate Easter but don’t want to do the hard work of Lent. This is a great seduction into which we all fall.”
If you find the hustle and bustle of life hard to resist, I invite you to join me in this contemplative pilgrimage toward the cross. Betwixt has crafted a series of meditations for Holy Week based the Stations of the Cross. Our journey begins with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and ends in the Garden Tomb awaiting his victorious resurrection.
For the follower of Jesus, the cross invites us to the hard work of laying ourselves down. To lay our old ways, our burdens, our wounds, our dreams, our anxieties at the foot of the cross. To see them buried in the tomb in order that new life can come forth. Jesus said that a seed of wheat must first be buried in the ground and die in order for it to bring forth the life that will bear fruit.
This is a liminal journey.
And at the heart of this journey is the message of love. As we engage the sorrow, the suffering, the violence while walking with Jesus toward the darkness, we discover that, indeed, there is no greater love than that which would lay itself down for others.
This self-giving love of Christ transforms and revitalizes us as we follow the way of the cross. It reminds us of who we are, as the beloved children of God, created in His image and invited to enjoy his presence.
How to Walk the Stations During Holy Week
There are 14 stations. Each meditation is between 10-15 minutes long. If you are listening during Holy Week, consider listening to two stations per day. Or you may choose to listen to all 14 stations at one time so as to experience the full journey.
It’s recommended that you pause for prayer after each station and journal your response.
SPECIAL NOTE ON STATION 10: Wounds
In Station 10, we engage a Visio Divina exercise which may be challenging for podcast! We will reflect on this painting entitled “White Crucifixion” by Marc Chagall.
Please follow this link to the Chicago Institute of Art to view the image.
Thank you to Young Noah for the use of his song Via Dolorosa.
Help a girl out – Subscribe/Rate/Review Betwixt on iTunes!
Learn more about the podcast at betwixtpodcast.com
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If you like this episode, you might want to check out:
Betwixt Ep. 3: Walter Brueggemann on Failed White Domination and the Door or Hope
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