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Scripture:  Matthew 28:1-10 In the process of doing youth ministry it would often come out fairly early that my original career plan was to be a history teacher.   When young people learned this, I could anticipate that there would always be the same response.  Inevitably, one of the teens rolls their eyes and expresses their … [Read more…]

 Good Friday Tenebrae Service The word “Tenebrae” comes from Latin and means darkness.   In Christian tradition a Tenebrae service has long been used to remember the dark days before the glorious resurrection.  The increasing darkness is meant to signify the approaching darkness of Jesus’ death and the hopelessness in a world without God’s love or … [Read more…]

Background:  The final station of the cross marks Jesus being placed in the tomb.  The pictured structure is the the fourteenth station and tradition states it is built over the very tomb of Jesus. Read:  Luke 23:53-54 Reflection:   It is finished.   The Jewish leaders thought that Jesus being a pain in their side was finished.  … [Read more…]

Background:   The 13th station marks Jesus being taken off the cross and prepared for burial.  A mural on the wall in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher depicts this station. Read:  Matthew 27:59-60 Reflection:   Jesus had died, but this was not the end.  For his followers they still had burial preparations, because little did they … [Read more…]

Background:   The twelfth station marks and remembers the death of Jesus on the cross.  This station is found beneath a beautiful altar.  Worshipers can kneel below it where there is a hole in the floor.   It is possible to reach through the hole and touch a rock that tradition states is the very place where … [Read more…]

Background:  The eleventh station marks Jesus being nailed to the cross.  A mural in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher depicts this station. Read:  Mark 15:25-32 Reflection:   Not only was Jesus nailed to the cross, but he then had to endure the ridicule while he hung there.  This is the very Jesus, who even Satan … [Read more…]

Background:  Jesus has reached the foot of the cross.  In order to get him ready for the cross, he is stripped of his garments.  The courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher serves as the tenth station. Read:   John 19:23-24  Reflection:   When someone hung on the cross to die there was little left to … [Read more…]

Background:   For a third and final time, Catholic tradition remembers that Jesus falls on the way to the cross. The ninth station is found right outside of the Church of Holy Sepulcher on the wall of an Armenian monastery. .   Reflection:   At this point Jesus was so close to his ultimate destination.   He picked … [Read more…]

Background:   On the way to the cross, Jesus passed a group of women who crying on his behalf.   Jesus briefly stops to address them.   Like the sixth station the only marker are simple roman numerals posted on the market wall. Read:   Luke 23:27-31 Reflect:   Jesus was ever the teacher.   Even when he was on the … [Read more…]

Background:   Even though the Bible does not record this event, Catholic tradition once again remembers that on the way to the cross Jesus fell a second time.  A small chapel that is rarely opened marks the reported location of this event. Reflect:   At this point in the journey, Jesus had Simon helping him carry the … [Read more…]