Virtual Way of the Cross with Elizabeth Wang images

Posted 4 years ago

Heartwood Church in the US created a beautiful Stations of the Cross using Elizabeth's images this Lent. You can scroll through the whole series here: https://heartwood.church/2021/03/16/virtual-way-of-the-cross-2021/ Each Station includes a meditation, some scripture, a prayer, and some questions for reflection. Congratulations to Rev Paul Tillman the Pastor there for his creativity in getting this together.

The First Station is copied below to whet your appetite

1. The Fellowship of His Sufferings

Illustration by Elizabeth Wang, T-01686-CW, ‘We can offer up our sufferings in union with Jesus in His Passion, to comfort Him, and to help other souls. Every suffering in our lives can be offered up, united with Jesus in that same type of suffering in His own life: our fear united to His in Gethsemane; our being misunderstood, with Jesus deserted by His Apostles; our grief, with Jesus weeping for Lazarus; our fear of evil forces, with Jesus being tempted by Satan.’, copyright © Radiant Light 2003 – 2017, www.radiantlight.org.uk

Introduction

The Way of the Cross is a devotional exercise began by pilgrims to Jerusalem who prayed as they followed the path Jesus took on the day of his crucifixion. This spiritual formation is still practiced today in Jerusalem and in churches and sacred spaces around the world, especially during Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter). Many Christian denominations engage in The Way of the Cross. Pope Francis has articulated eight reasons for this practice.

  • It allows us to place our trust in Jesus.
  • It puts us into the story.
  • It reminds us that Jesus suffers with us.
  • It compels us to action.
  • It helps us make a decision for or against Jesus.
  • It gives us the certainty of God’s love for us.
  • It guides us from the cross to the resurrection.

Meditation

Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn’t seek the glory of Christ. (John of the Cross)

My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11

If you want to know who God is, look at Jesus. If you want to know what it means to be human, look at Jesus. If you want to know what love us, look at Jesus. If you want to know what grief is, look at Jesus. And go on looking until you’re not just a spectator, but you’re actually part of the drama which has him as the central character. (N. T. Wright)

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me (us) walk in your steps. Amen.