A Meditation For Our Hearts . . .
The following Stations of the Cross for PEACE were inspired by a booklet that was written by Fr. Gilbert Barth, TOR. The booklet title may have been: "Stations for Peace"? I contacted his community to ask if they had any more of these booklets. But, the title and author were not currently recognized. I have not been able to locate the very old copy that, many years ago, served this personal meditation, in order to give proper 'credits'. I remember that Fr. Barth incorporated Scripture and St. Francis of Assisi's Prayer for Peace in his own meditation. Keeping the end goal in mind of personal 'inner' PEACE as well as World-Wide PEACE, for each Station, I felt lead to meditate specifically on daily applications for God's Threefold 'Call'. Because, only, 'to the degree' that we each strive to embrace and integrate into our lives the deepest meaning of, FREEDOM-UNITY-INTEGRITY, will God's Dream for PEACE, through JUSTICE for ALL, be fulfilled.
May we be strengthened by the example of all of God’s committed, consecrated persons who have gone before us, as was Martin Luther King. Together with all those who work for PEACE in our time, let us pray:
‘Freedom at last!' . . . Let us now ever seek 'Unity' for this common purpose of striving toward the fulfillment of God’s Dream, Peace through Justice, that
'Integrity' may be sought and found by all of God’s People throughout the whole World. Amen!
1. DISCOURSE AT THE LAST SUPPER
Lord, make us instruments of Your Peace.
Let us free our fearful hearts through Your Word.
Let us unite our troubled hearts through Your Presence.
Let us integrate our scattered hearts through Your Peace.
"Peace is My gift to you; . . . not as the world gives peace . . ." (John 14:1, 27-28; 16:32-33)
2. THE GIFT OF EUCHARIST
Where there is hatred, let us sow love.
Let us free our hateful hearts in love.
Let us unite our angry hearts in Eucharist.
Let us integrate our resentful hearts in wholeness.
He said, "this is My body . . . this is My blood . . ." (Matthew 26:26-30)
3. THE AGONY IN GARDEN
Where there is doubt, let us bring faith.
Let us free our busy hearts to be prayerful.
Let us unite our hesitant hearts to experience trust.
Let us integrate our doubtful hearts to know faith.
"My heart is nearly broken with sorrow. Remain here and stay awake with me." (Matthew 26:36-39; Luke 22:43)
4. JESUS IS TAKEN CAPTIVE
Where there is injury, let us bring pardon.
Let us free our betrayed hearts with Christ's Kiss of Peace.
Let us unite our unpardoned hearts with Christ’s Infinite Clemency.
Let us integrate our wounded hearts with Christ’s Anointed Healing.
"Lord, shall we use the sword?" . . . Jesus said in answer . . . "Enough!"
(Luke 22:47-51)
5. JESUS IS BLINDFOLDED AND MOCKED
Where there is darkness, let us bring light.
Let us free our blinded hearts to recognize Christ's Heart.
Let us unite our insulted hearts to give prophetic witness.
Let us integrate our prideful hearts to live with modest humility.
"They . . . questioned Him . . . and they reviled him . . . saying things against Him." (Luke 22:63-66)
6. JUDAS TAKES HIS LIFE
Where there is despair, let us bring hope.
Let us free our despairing hearts with the hope of mercy.
Let us unite our repentant hearts with the reconciliation of forgiveness.
Let us integrate our remorseful hearts with the goodness of life.
"I did wrong to deliver up an innocent man." . . . "What is that to us? It is your affair!" (Matthew 27:3-5)
7. JESUS IS JUDGED BY PILATE
Grant that we may seek not so much to be understood as to understand.
Let us free our introspected hearts to know self worth for service.
Let us unite our powerless hearts to know timing for words or silence.
Let us integrate our controlling hearts to know understanding for others.
"I have the power to release you and . . . to crucify you . . ." (John 19:9-11)
8. BARABBAS IS PREFERRED TO JESUS
Grant that we may seek not so much to be loved as to love.
Let us free our fickle hearts to become faithful through Christ's Love.
Let us unite our selfish hearts to become altruistic with Christ's Love.
Let us integrate our accusing hearts to become committed in Christ's Love.
"What am I to do with Jesus . . .? (Matthew 27:15-17, 21-23, 26)
9. JESUS IS LED TO GOLGATHA AND CRUCIFIED
It is in giving that we receive.
Let us free our self-serving hearts to give without measure.
Let us unite our self-seeking hearts to give without return.
Let us integrate our self-rewarding hearts to give without glory.
"He saved others; let Him save Himself . . . " (Luke 23:26, 33, 35)
10. MARY IS ENTRUSTED TO THE CARE OF THE BELOVED DISCIPLE
Grant that we may seek not so much to be consoled as to console.
Let us free our disappointed hearts from self-concern to express empathy for others.
Let us unite our suffering hearts with Christ's Passion to express compassion for others.
Let us integrate our unfeeling hearts by transforming Grace to express consolation for others.
" . . . There is your son . . . There is your mother." (John 19:25-27)
11. JESUS PARDONS CRUCIFIERS
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
Let us free our conditional hearts to forgive unconditionally.
Let us unite our hurt hearts to forgive without hesitation.
Let us integrate our judgmental hearts to forgive without questioning.
" . . . forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)
12. JESUS GIVES UP SPIRIT
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Let us free our material hearts to embrace Divine Purpose.
Let us unite our closed hearts to open to Divine Eclipse.
Let us integrate our dying hearts to surrender to Divine Life.
" . . . Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit." (Luke 23:44-46)
13. JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE
Where there is sadness, let us bring joy.
Let us free our saddened hearts by acknowledging them as worthy.
Let us unite our joyless hearts by assuring them of meaning.
Let us integrate our weeping hearts by supporting them with purpose.
" . . . why are you weeping?" (John 20:11-16)
14. JESUS APPEARS TO DISCIPLES
Lord, make us instruments of Your peace.
Let us free our locked hearts to welcome in Jesus' Spirit.
Let us unite our disbelieving hearts to recognize our Salvation.
Let us integrate our distressed hearts for the fullness of Christ's Peace.
"Peace be with you." (John 20:19-22)
*We invite all Individuals, Families, Communities, and Nations; all persons of every Lifestyle, Race, Creed, Culture, and Government to embrace this threefold 'Call' for, Freedom-Unity-Integrity.
Donna Amy Podobinski, SCP, Copyright © The Society of Christ's Priesthood, a program of CITI Ministries, Inc.
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